Americans often eat meals of poor nutritional quality

Americans often eat meals of poor nutritional quality, according to a new study published in the JAMA Network Open journal. Researchers at Tufts University analyzed all meals - including snacks and beverages - consumed by Americans over 16 years old. Yes, it showed our meals generally consisted of poor-quality foods, but where those meals with the unhealthy foods came from was surprising. At restaurants, about two-thirds of adults' meals and 80 percent of kids' meals were of poor quality. Next worse were entertainment venues and food trucks. Meals based on foods bought at grocery stores were better, with only one-third of adult meals having unhealthy foods. The study shows how the nutritional quality of most meals, snacks, and drinks consumed in the U.S. remains poor. But it offers hope by encouraging people to buy healthy foods at the store and cook meals at home.