What Americans aren't eating

KinoM

USDA chart on average household food consumption versus recommended levels. Make of it what you will:
http://ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/detail.aspx?chartId=41706&ref=collection&embed=True&widgetId=39734#.UtathNJdWc0

_John_

so based on that data, and considering sources of each, the USDA is recommending that Americans eat more food not grown in America...

Pixt

so based on that data, and considering sources of each, the USDA is recommending that Americans eat more food not grown in America...

Don't we have some dude in Wisconsin to grow green stuff for us?

KinoM

Which foods aren't grown in the US? I'm irish so I wouldn't know.

KinoM

Don't we have some dude in Wisconsin to grow green stuff for us?

I can't find that stuff in the food database for some reason. Puzzling.

janeite1990

Fascinating. Thanks!

Pearsquared

Which foods aren't grown in the US? I'm irish so I wouldn't know.

I'm American and I have no clue what he's talking about. The US is a big country...there aren't many foods we can't grow somewhere in the country.

sheermomentum

Most foods that can be grown in the U.S., are grown in the U.S. - although not at this time of year, and not as much as they used to be. We have a whole lot of space between New York and LA that many people don't think much about.

Basically what this chart says is that the government recommends we eat more whole grains and less of everything else. Which is in line with their other recommendation that a female such as myself eat about 130 grams of carbs and 46 grams of protein per day.

Need I say more?

just_Jennie1

so based on that data, and considering sources of each, the USDA is recommending that Americans eat more food not grown in America...

:huh:

Based on what data?

_John_

Which foods aren't grown in the US? I'm irish so I wouldn't know.

the fish and vegetables and fruit are what stood out to me the most, and those are (sadly on the fish especially for most of america) largely imported.

Can depend on season for the veggies and fruit though, as a lot are grown in the US.

IPAkiller

I wonder if this data is affected by the fact our current EBT (food stamps) system allows free will of the card holder to purchase as they please with very limited guidelines and restrictions. Why buy FFV (fresh fruits and vegetables) when you can use the card value to purchase bottled water, Monster Energy drinks, soda, steak and deli items? We do have a WIC voucher system that forces the voucher holder's hand to purchase milk, eggs, beans, grains etc, but the ratio of EBT to WIC recipients is in the range of 9:1.

auddii

Am I the only one confused by the recommended intake of soup?!

_John_

Which foods aren't grown in the US? I'm irish so I wouldn't know.

I'm American and I have no clue what he's talking about. The US is a big country...there aren't many foods we can't grow somewhere in the country.

fruits and veggies are often grown seasonally...the US doesn't cover both the north and southern hemispheres...most of our typical grocery stores change very little in the fruits and veggies offered...you do the math.

_John_

and besides my rant, yes, americans don't eat enough nutrient dens whole foods.

rml_16

Which foods aren't grown in the US? I'm irish so I wouldn't know.

I'm American and I have no clue what he's talking about. The US is a big country...there aren't many foods we can't grow somewhere in the country.

fruits and veggies are often grown seasonally...the US doesn't cover both the north and southern hemispheres...most of our typical grocery stores change very little in the fruits and veggies offered...you do the math.

Do you know you can't find Florida oranges in Florids grocery stores? You can buy locally-grown ones at farmer's markets and stuff, but we have Californian and Mexican oranges in gorcery stores. They ship ours to other states. SMH.

fruttibiscotti

Oh my goodness, the graphic on that website is quite a telling picture. It shows excessive consumption in the US of refined grains, sugars & sweets, as well as beverages. No wonder there's an obesity crisis.

AlongCame_Molly

Yikes! Look at that sugar data! :noway:

sheermomentum

Hey John (and btw I love your pic),

You're right...this time of year we are getting alot of our produce from Central and South America, although if you look carefully, you can still find some items grown in the U.S.. California, Texas, and Florida have a few areas that can support farming year-round. ( http://www.california-grown.com/PDFs/Whats-In-Season.pdf). And oranges are picked in December and apples picked in the late fall in Washington are still available in the stores everywhere.

And about the fish, you're kinda right again: we do import more than we used to, but we also do still have domestic commercial fishing off all our coasts, and its trying to thrive although pollution and overproduction are taking their toll: http://stateofthecoast.noaa.gov/com_fishing/welcome.html

and @rml_16: thank you for your oranges. They are delicious. But seriously, that is both weird and kinda sucky.
Sorry if I'm being pedantic, but this post hit 2 of my nerves: the one where I feel we need to support domestic food production more, and the one where I'm sick of the USDA telling me to eat more wheat bread and less meat.

Mother_Superior

In...

because there's no way that this thread isn't going to wind up breaking down into wild generalizations, blind patriotic rants, and butthurt insanity!

LunaGreen

Am I the only one confused by the recommended intake of soup?!

I'm not eating enough soup in my diet!! :noway: :laugh:

mrsjones2point0

How much did food industry lobbyests pay the FDA last year for their "studies" and "reports"

rml_16

and @rml_16: thank you for your oranges. They are delicious. But seriously, that is both weird and kinda sucky.

It really is! Florida oranges are yummy! I ate them all the time ... in NEW YORK. lol I guess they must make more money that way? I don't know.

My fiance grew up in West Palm and his aunt and uncle have orange groves. He won't eat the oranges from grocery stores ever. He says they have no taste.

rduhlir

Which foods aren't grown in the US? I'm irish so I wouldn't know.

I'm American and I have no clue what he's talking about. The US is a big country...there aren't many foods we can't grow somewhere in the country.

fruits and veggies are often grown seasonally...the US doesn't cover both the north and southern hemispheres...most of our typical grocery stores change very little in the fruits and veggies offered...you do the math.

Do you know you can't find Florida oranges in Florids grocery stores? You can buy locally-grown ones at farmer's markets and stuff, but we have Californian and Mexican oranges in gorcery stores. They ship ours to other states. SMH.

Actually, 75% of the oranges produced in Florida are used for juicing, which is why it is often so hard to find them in the grocery. CA also produces some of these oranges, but there is something about the FL air/soil/water make up that make them so perfect for juicing that companies prefer them over the other states. It is actually very rare that FL oranges are found in other state groceries because of this. When they are it is usually a sign of a good harvest year in FL.

The majority of the US produced oranges sold as whole fruits come from CA and TX...Mexico oranges usually only hit the shelf when there is a bad harvest year.

rml_16

It is actually very rare that FL oranges are found in other state groceries because of this.

I grew up in New York. Most of the oranges there were FL oranges.

_John_

Hey John (and btw I love your pic),

You're right...this time of year we are getting alot of our produce from Central and South America, although if you look carefully, you can still find some items grown in the U.S.. California, Texas, and Florida have a few areas that can support farming year-round. ( http://www.california-grown.com/PDFs/Whats-In-Season.pdf). And oranges are picked in December and apples picked in the late fall in Washington are still available in the stores everywhere.

And about the fish, you're kinda right again: we do import more than we used to, but we also do still have domestic commercial fishing off all our coasts, and its trying to thrive although pollution and overproduction are taking their toll: http://stateofthecoast.noaa.gov/com_fishing/welcome.html

and @rml_16: thank you for your oranges. They are delicious. But seriously, that is both weird and kinda sucky.
Sorry if I'm being pedantic, but this post hit 2 of my nerves: the one where I feel we need to support domestic food production more, and the one where I'm sick of the USDA telling me to eat more wheat bread and less meat.

importing tilapia is just sad...(granted that fish is NOT native to begin with...so not really a "legitimate" complaint anyway)

hell, you can just throw them in any pond in the spring in the southern US (where most of our catfish farmed (mississippi IIRC)) and grow a ****ton of them. They literally will eat the waste, and the byproducts on the pond from such waste, of other fish.

Athijade

Oh my goodness, the graphic on that website is quite a telling picture. It shows excessive consumption in the US of refined grains, sugars & sweets, as well as beverages. No wonder there's an obesity crisis.

Yea.. because grains and sugar is the WHOLE reason for obesity.

Please note the sarcasm.

The fact is, we eat too damn much. Period. You can get fat on anything if you eat more calories then you need. So stop with the BS "OMG grains and sugar make us fat".

SoDamnHungry

What I'm taking from this chart is that legumes taste horrible.

meshashesha2012

Which foods aren't grown in the US? I'm irish so I wouldn't know.

the fish and vegetables and fruit are what stood out to me the most, and those are (sadly on the fish especially for most of america) largely imported.

Can depend on season for the veggies and fruit though, as a lot are grown in the US.

believe it or not we export a lot of living fish overseas and eventually buy it back from them as food. crazy right?

somefitsomefat

I went to a Japanese hibachi place once and the cook at our table was latino. He did make the onion volcano but didn't squirt sake in our mouths. The terrorists have already won. 'Merica is doomed. On a more sane note I don't care where my food is grown. Just make it cheap and yummy.

KinoM

Given the size of both your country, the various climates & the size of your agricultural industry, it's staggering to read some of the food source stories on here.

Whenever I've visited the US I was astounded by the variety of local produce available, albeit in markets & pricier stores.

A thought though, that given a shift in popularity would more food stay in the country rather than go for export? Markets are driven by demand.

michellekicks

I'm certain I'm eating enough poultry to make up for everyone not eating their fair share.