Table 1.
Distribution of daily energy intake according to NOVA food groups
| Food groups | Mean energy intake (kcal) | SE | Mean percentage of total energy intake | SE |
| Unprocessed or minimally processed foods | 537.3 | 6.4 | 27.4 | 0.3 |
| Cereal | 99.4 | 2.8 | 5.0 | 0.1 |
| Meat | 94.2 | 2.3 | 4.6 | 0.1 |
| Milk | 88.6 | 1.6 | 4.5 | 0.1 |
| Poultry | 67.3 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 0.1 |
| Fruits | 58.2 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 0.1 |
| Roots and tubers | 34.6 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| Eggs | 29.8 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Legumes | 17.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Fish | 15.4 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Vegetables | 13.9 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Other* | 18.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Processed culinary ingredients | 85.2 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 0.1 |
| Plant oils | 32.1 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.9 |
| Sugar | 26.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 |
| Animal fats | 25.1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Other† | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Processed foods | 215.3 | 4.8 | 10.0 | 0.2 |
| Cheese | 79.4 | 1.7 | 3.7 | 0.1 |
| Ham and other salted, smoked or canned meat or fish | 28.1 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Vegetables and other plant foods preserved in brine | 14.9 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Fruits in syrup, jams, marmalades | 9.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Other‡ | 83.8 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 0.1 |
| Ultra-processed foods | 1205.4 | 7.8 | 58.5 | 0.3 |
| Breads | 197.6 | 2.6 | 9.9 | 0.1 |
| Frozen/shelf-stable dishes§ | 185.7 | 3.9 | 8.6 | 0.1 |
| Confectionery | 128.0 | 2.6 | 6.3 | 0.1 |
| Fruit and milk drinks | 114.3 | 1.8 | 5.8 | 0.1 |
| Cakes, cookies and pies | 123.6 | 2.2 | 5.7 | 0.1 |
| Soft drinks | 96.0 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 0.2 |
| Salty snacks | 85.4 | 1.9 | 4.1 | 0.1 |
| Breakfast cereals | 56.8 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 |
| Sauces, dressings and gravies | 51.7 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.1 |
| Sausages, hamburgers, reconstituted meat products | 51.0 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 0.1 |
| Other¶ | 115.3 | 1.8 | 5.6 | 0.0 |
| All foods | 2043.2 | 9.6 | 100.0 |
US population aged ≥2 years (NHANES 2007–2012).
*Including nuts and seeds (unsalted); yeast; dried fruits (without added sugars) and vegetables; non-presweetened, non-whitened, non-flavoured coffee and tea; coconut water and meat; homemade soup and sauces; flours; tapioca.
†Including starches; coconut and milk cream; unsweetened baking chocolate, cocoa powder and gelatin powder; vinegar; baking powder and baking soda.
‡Including salted or sugared nuts and seeds; peanut, sesame, cashew and almond butter or spread; beer and wine.
§Including pizzas and ready-to-eat dishes.
¶Including soy products such as meatless patties and fish sticks; baby food and baby formula; dips, spreads, mustard and catsup; margarine; sugar substitutes, sweeteners and all syrups (excluding 100% maple syrup); distilled alcoholic drinks.
NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.