Snacking—not portion size—drives overeating
Americans have gotten fatter. Although our sedentary lifestyles are partly to blame, a big reason for our weight gain is because we’re eating more often. The average American eats 2,375 calories per day—up more than 30 percent from the late 1970’s. What accounts for those extra calories? According to a new study, the single biggest contributor to the rise in calorie intake has been the number of snacks and meals people eat per day. Over the past 30+ years, Americans have gone from consuming 3.8 snacks and meals per day to 4.9—a 29% increase! The average portion size has increased, too, but only by about 12%. Also, the average number of calories per one-gram serving of food (also known as “energy density”) actually decreased slightly over that period, which implies that calorie rich food has played a relatively minor role in our growing waistlines.
I recommend stick with 3 meals per day, limit snacking, and keep your portions in check. For a list of healthy snacks, please contact me.