Are Canadians junk food junkies?

If we truly are what we eat, no wonder junk-food addicted Canadians are getting fatter with every mouthful.
Ottawa Sun reporter HOLLY LAKE spent two months looking at what's at the end of your fork, and what it's doing to you.
The results aren't pretty.

Today: Unhealthy choices

Much like underweight Canadians, information on what we're eating is scarce.

The last national survey was conducted by Nutrition Canada in 1970-1972. Since then, the federal government has done little else to determine what the nation is feeding on. So to paint the picture of Canuck food habits, one must scrounge.

Fortunately, in 1997 and 1998, researchers at McGill University's school of dietetics and human nutrition opened the nation's collective mouth to see what we're putting in there.

After surveying 1,543 adults and nearly 200 adolescents, Food Habits of Canadians did whip up some good news: Our fat consumption has dropped by 10% since the 1970s.

On the other hand, while Canucks are eating less fat, and in most age-sex groups fewer calories, we're still getting fat -- an indication of a nation eating too much and moving too little.

Compounding the concern is that fruit and vegetable consumption is nowhere near the recommended five to 10 servings a day, particularly in men and women over 50. In fact, fewer than 30% of Canadians eat five servings daily.

We're also lacking in dairy products. Adults over 35 aren't even getting the recommended 2-4 servings a day, while youth are sucking back soda instead.

In all age groups, prominent energy sources include foods that don't fall into any major food group. Those accounted for 26%-29% of energy intake and 24%-34% of fat.