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. 2019 Jan 29;109(3):526–534. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy327

TABLE 3.

Food group intakes by low- and high-dietary GHGE groups, adults ≥18 y, NHANES 2005–20101

Food group Unit2 Low-GHGE diet3 (n = 3545) High-GHGE diet3 (n = 3303) P 4
Total fruit and vegetables5 cup eq/1000 kcal 1.19 ± 0.03 1.30 ± 0.03 0.007
 Fruit cup eq/1000 kcal 0.49 ± 0.02 0.46 ± 0.02 0.255
 Vegetables5 cup eq/1000 kcal 0.71 ± 0.02 0.84 ± 0.02 <0.001
Total grains oz eq/1000 kcal 3.60 ± 0.05 2.63 ± 0.03 <0.001
 Whole grains oz eq/1000 kcal 0.51 ± 0.02 0.28 ± 0.01 <0.001
 Refined grains oz eq/1000 kcal 3.09 ± 0.05 2.35 ± 0.03 <0.001
Protein foods: total6 oz eq/1000 kcal 2.37 ± 0.04 4.17 ± 0.04 <0.001
 Animal protein foods oz eq/1000 kcal 1.57 ± 0.03 3.79 ± 0.04 <0.001
  Meat7 oz eq/1000 kcal 0.11 ± 0.01 2.26 ± 0.04 <0.001
  Poultry oz eq/1000 kcal 0.85 ± 0.03 0.33 ± 0.02 <0.001
  Seafood oz eq/1000 kcal 0.21 ± 0.01 0.41 ± 0.03 <0.001
 Plant protein foods8 oz eq/1000 kcal 0.81 ± 0.04 0.37 ± 0.02 <0.001
Total dairy cup eq/1000 kcal 0.54 ± 0.01 0.72 ± 0.02 <0.001
Oils g/1000 kcal 12.86 ± 0.23 8.40 ± 0.14 <0.001
Solid fats g/1000 kcal 14.67 ± 0.23 19.02 ± 0.16 <0.001
Added sugars tsp eq/1000 kcal 10.46 ± 0.25 7.43 ± 0.15 <0.001
1

Values are mean ± SE. CO2-eq, carbon dioxide equivalent; cup eq, cup equivalent; GHGE, greenhouse gas emissions; oz eq, ounce equivalents; tsp eq, teaspoon equivalents.

2

Units for food groups were developed by USDA in common units and on an equivalent basis to create nutritional homogeneity in groups that have foods with diverse water concentrations (e.g., juice, fruit, or dried fruit). Cup eq/1000 kcal refers to cup equivalents per 1000 kcal. For example, 1 cup equivalent of dairy is either 1 cup (245 g) of milk, yogurt, or fortified soy milk, ∼1.5 oz of natural cheese, or ∼2 oz of processed cheese. See (27) for additional details.

3

Low-GHGE diets are defined as those in the lowest quintile of GHGE (kg CO2-eq/1000 kcal per day). High-GHGE diets are defined as those in the highest quintile of GHGE per 1000 kcal per day.

4

Determined by t test.

5

Vegetable totals do not include legumes.

6

The total protein foods group is a sum of animal and plant protein foods.

7The meat group includes beef, veal, other ruminant animals, pork, and game.

8

The plant protein foods group includes all legumes, soybeans, nuts, and seeds.