Americans Think They Eat Nutritious Foods, But Actually Don’t

Though four out of five Americans say they know a lot about nutrition, are eating adequate amounts of nutritious foods, they really aren’t. There is a wide gulf between perceptions of adequate nutritious intake and actual intake, according to research from the International Food Information Council. For example, 68 percent of those surveyed said they were consuming adequate levels of vitamin D, but only 32 percent actually were. Sixty-seven percent said they get enough fiber in their diet, but only five percent actually were. On the subject of functional foods (i.e., those that offer health benefits beyond nutrition), 90 percent agreed that such foods are available. But a third of Americans said they are not consuming enough of them, especially those containing omega 3 fatty acids, lutein, flavonoids or zeaxanthin, to realize any health benefit.