What Are We Eating?

Have you ever wondered just how much sugar you are eating daily? It’s probably more than you should be. According to their website, the American Heart Association(AHA) recommends a man to consume no more than 36 grams, 150 calories, of sugar daily, and a woman to consume no more than 25 grams, 100 calories, of sugar a day. Though these recommendations are stated, most Americans don’t abide by them. In an article on WebMD, they wrote about how these recommendations relate to the actual intake: “the average American gets way more: 22 teaspoons a day (88 grams).” Because of this excessive sugar intake, along with other factors, about 1 in 5 American children are obese, and 41.9 percent of adults have obesity.

The School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study collected data from the 2014-2015 school year and they found that 92 percent of schools exceeded the limit for added sugars in breakfast foods, and 69 percent exceeded the lunch limit. They said that more than 60 percent of children “consumed breakfasts that exceeded the DGA limit”, which is the Dissolved Gas Analysis. They also said that just under half  “consumed lunches that exceeded the limit.” In 2010, an act was passed to help children receive the proper amount of each food category needed per meal, as well as taking away foods that contained high levels of fat. This act was called the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act, which was passed by President Barack Obama. It did in fact introduce more fat-free foods into school breakfasts and lunches, but it failed to reduce the amounts of sugar. Therefore, even though it was designed to decrease the number of children that were obese, that number actually increased by 18%.

Here at Eisenhower, I’ve noticed that a majority of students eat cereal in the mornings. When we do, we are receiving a minimum of 11 grams of sugar, just with breakfast. In the cereals served at school, there is an average of 11 grams of added sugar. In the chocolate milks, there are also 11 grams of added sugars. This leads to obesity, which puts people at risk for severe heart diseases, high blood pressure, and makes them more susceptible to infectious diseases. In an article, the San Diego Union Tribune wrote “Elementary school lunch menus contain 115 percent of the recommended daily calories from added sugars and fats, according to a November study…”. The Center for Investigative Reporting also wrote that “Boys consume an average of about 360 calories – more than 22 teaspoons (92g) – of added sugars a day… Girls average about 280 calories – more than 17 teaspoons (71g) – daily.” By having breakfasts and lunches that include unhealthy amounts of sugar, schools are promoting bad health for children ages 5-18.

To help this, you can reduce the amount of sugar you’re eating, which can bring so many benefits. It helps encourage weight loss, improves your blood pressure and blood sugar levels, as well as your heart, liver, and dental health, according to Healthline. In addition, your skin can clear up extremely fast, and you will feel more energetic and alive than you did before. Some ways to help reduce your sugar intake are to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, cut down on processed foods and soda, and use an alternative sweetener, such as Splenda or honey.