The three pie charts compare the average proportion of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in the American 4-meal diet.
Overall, dinner meals contribute the largest share to sodium and fat intake, while snacks hold the leading position for that of the sweetener. Breakfast, on the other hand, accounts for comparable distribution of the three.
Regarding sodium intake, dinner menus, which take up 43%, are the primary contributor, tripling breakfasts’ and snacks’. Lunches make up nearly a third of sodium consumption, at 29%.
Turning to that of saturated fat, there is a similar pattern with dinners leading at 37%, followed by lunches and snacks at about a quarter each. Breakfasts constitute the smallest percentage, at only 16%.
Unlike these two nutrients, sugar distribution is led by snack options at nearly half, which almost double dinner meals. Lunch and morning servings make up the rest, at 19% and 16%, respectively.
