The charts show the average proportion of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in typical American meals. All three nutrients can be harmful when consumed in excess.
Overall, dinner contains the highest levels of sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks are the largest source of added sugar. Breakfast provides the lowest proportion of all three nutrients.
Dinner accounts for the greatest share of sodium at around 43%, followed by lunch at about 29%. Snacks and breakfast contribute far less, each making up roughly 14%. A similar pattern appears for saturated fat: dinner again ranks highest at 37%, with lunch at 26%. Breakfast is the lowest source at 14%, while snacks provide a slightly higher figure of 21%.
In contrast, added sugar is most heavily concentrated in snacks, which make up about 42% of total intake. Dinner and lunch contribute notably smaller amounts, at approximately 23% and 19% respectively. Breakfast contains the least added sugar at just 16%.
In summary, dinner is the main source of sodium and saturated fat in the American diet, while snacks contain the most added sugar. Breakfast remains the lowest contributor across all nutrients.
