Few Americans Accurately Estimate The Number Of Calories They Should Eat Daily

USA Today (5/6, Hellmich) reports that just nine percent of Americans “can accurately estimate the number of calories they should eat in a day, and 9% keep track of their calories every day,” according to “a nationally representative online survey of 1,000 people, conducted for the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation.”

WebMD (5/5, Goodman) reported, “At a time of economic uncertainty, however, the survey suggests weight loss may be on the back burner for a lot of people.” Not surprisingly, “taste is the main reason people buy food at the grocery store or a restaurant, but price is catching up as a main consideration.” Although “87% of people report taste is their top priority, 79% made price the No. 2 factor in food and drink decision making — a 15% jump for price since 2006. Healthfulness of food ranked third: 66% said a food’s nutritional quality affected their food choices.”