Fast Food over the Last 30 years: More Calories and Salt

So many of us are still eating at "fast food" restaurants on a regular basis. When I ask about this in the office the most common response is because of "convenience." Fast food, aka McDonalds, Burger Kind, KFC, Taco Bell, etc..., grew into a regular food source for many people by providing calorie-dense, cheap, and readily available food at nearly every street corner. 

Over the years these restaurants have tried to incorporate more healthy items into the menu like salads or even oatmeal for breakfast. However, per a recent article in the New York Times by Tiffany Hsu, we can see that portion sizes and overall calorie content over the last 30 years has gone up sharply!

Portion Size and Calories of Entrees

Portion Size and Calories of Desserts

Portion Size and Calories of Side Items

The above data is adapted from her article where she notes "[Entrees + sides eaten] together as a single meal... account for nearly 40 percent of a 2,000-calorie daily diet."

>>> Read the original article here.