urbanization, the modern lifestyle, and chronic diseasefood components of the processed food industry that added extra
calories and reduced protective micronutrients to our foods have
actually had a reduction in real costs. Adjusted for inflation, prices
decreased by 10 percent for fats and oils, 15 percent for sugars and
sweets, and 34 percent for carbonated soft drinks.^11 Therefore,
the public consumes more calories and unhealthy foods because
of price, convenience, and lack of knowledge. Do you ever wonder
why fast food can be sold for such cheap prices?
The culmination of these five dietary patterns over the last cen-
tury has led to an unhealthy and devastating food intake pattern in
the United States, in which 12 percent of the calorie intake is from
plant foods (up to half of which may be processed), 25 percent
animal foods (almost all of which is factory farmed, not free-range
drug-free animals), and 63 percent processed foods containing
added fats, oils, sugars, and refined grains.^12
Special thanks to Joel Fuhrman, MD, and Amie Hamlin, Executive Director of The New York
Coalition for Healthy School Food for permission to reproduce and modify this illustration.
Original concept by Joel Fuhrman, MD, in Eat to Live (Drfuhrman.com). Graphic design by
Michelle Bando (Michellebando.com) as seen at Healthyschoolfood.org/nutrition101.htm,
copyright 2009.