What is the Most Eaten Food in the World?
What do you think the most eaten food in the world is? Do you believe it’s pizza? Or hamburgers? Maybe sandwiches or fries? There are so many possibilities, but it really depends on where you live! For example, if you live in the United States, you’ll probably find that the most eaten food in your country is steak and chicken, since they are so popular around here. But what about other countries? What foods do people around the world love to eat?
Noodles
We love our carbs. According to United Nations data, 70 percent of people eat some kind of noodle-like food daily. Worldwide, about half a million metric tons of wheat are processed into noodles annually; that’s enough flour to bake 50 billion loaves of bread or roll 1.5 trillion jelly doughnuts. With such mass consumption, it’s no surprise we see noodle dishes at almost every meal around the world: ramen in Japan, pasta and gnocchi in Italy, and pho (pronounced fuh) in Vietnam—just to name a few.
Rice
There’s a reason rice has been a staple of Asian diets for millennia. The starchy food is low-calorie, affordable and has plenty of essential vitamins and minerals, such as manganese, selenium and B vitamins. A cup of cooked brown rice delivers 20 grams of complete protein, which means it contains all nine essential amino acids required by our bodies that can’t be made by our bodies. Make sure to opt for wild or brown rice over white when possible to maximize fiber intake (three times more fiber than white), according to Men’s Health nutrition advisor Mike Roussell, Ph.D., C.S.C.S..
Bread
Did you know that more than a third of all human calories are eaten as bread? Whether it’s a bagel, pizza crust, or sandwich, there’s a good chance you’re eating some sort of wheat-based product. White bread consumption has declined in North America and Europe over recent decades but whole wheat consumption has increased. And while toast might be breakfast food royalty, around 70% of calories consumed by adults at breakfast are carbs—and most people think those carbs come from cereals like Corn Flakes or Raisin Bran.
Fish/Seafood
Fish and seafood are incredibly healthy foods. Our bodies need fatty acids, after all. Fish is also a great source of lean protein, so it’s no wonder that people all over the world enjoy eating fish so much. In fact, 80% of Americans say they eat fish regularly—and with good reason. If you are concerned about mercury levels in your fish or want to avoid certain types (like farm-raised salmon), there are lots of resources online to help you make smart decisions about what and how much to eat. Be sure you’re choosing fresh sources of fish instead of canned or frozen ones whenever possible; that way, you get more nutrients and vitamins from your food.
Meat (Poultry, Beef, Pork, etc.)
People eat a lot of meat. In fact, according to The Guardian, Americans consume twice as much meat per capita as our closest competitor, Australia. That’s about 200 pounds of meat per person each year! Unfortunately, studies have found that consuming too much red meat increases our risk for a variety of ailments including heart disease and certain cancers. Another downside to eating too much red meat is that it can be tough on your wallet; beef prices are climbing sharply due to flooding in Texas and tight cattle supplies around the world. If you eat one type of food frequently (especially something high in saturated fat), make sure you have a good reason for doing so.
Potatoes
The potato has a lot going for it, as far as starchy vegetables go. It’s high in vitamins, low-cost and easily grown, stored and prepared. But there are downsides: potatoes pack a carb load of 22 grams per medium white potato—and almost half of those carbs come from sugars. The vegetable’s glycemic index (GI) ranges from 105 to 118—comparable to that of pure table sugar. Those high GI values translate into abnormally large spikes in blood sugar levels after eating potatoes or products made with them, according to a 2012 meta-analysis published in Nutrition Research Reviews.
Vegetables (Notably root vegetables like carrots and radishes as well as leafy greens such as cabbage, spinach, broccoli, etc.)
Carrots and radishes are both easy to grow and offer a lot of nutrients. Root vegetables tend to keep well over long periods of time, making them useful for survival situations. Cabbage, spinach, broccoli, lettuce: Leafy greens are very nutrient-dense and can be grown easily indoors or out. They also do not spoil as quickly as other produce.
Sugar (Sugar was not on top ten list in 2000. Today it is number eight).
Back in 2000, chocolate was number one. Today it’s number seven on a list of most eaten foods globally. And sugar—yes, sugar!—is now number eight on that list. As a nation, we’re consuming 76 pounds of sugar every year—and we’re eating more fruits and vegetables than ever before. But our preference for sweet food shows no signs of abating: The average American consumes 30 percent more calories per day than they did 50 years ago (and we burn fewer of them!). That being said, there are lots of healthier options that can satisfy your sweet tooth without totally blowing your diet. Here are 5 healthy desserts you should eat now!