Poorer blacks still have healthier diets than any other group. But wealthier whites have made more progress than any other group. By 1991, Americans generally had significantly reduced their consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol and lowered their total fat intake from 40 to 35 percent of total calories. More needs to be done. Federal food giveaways often include items like cheese and butter that may be high in fat and cholesterol.
School lunches feature foods like burgers, pizzas, and tacos.
Americans are also relying more and more on convenience foods, including prepackaged goods and fast food, which means they exercise less control over their fat and cholesterol intake and consume fewer fruits, grains, and vegetables. More aggressive public education campaigns by health and nutrition groups could help bring along the 75 percent of Americans who are still not eating as wisely as they should.