HIGH-FAT CHIPS AND FRIES TOP VEGETABLE INTAKE.

• Position: Of teenagers - Brief Article

Mom always said to eat your vegetables, but she probably wasn't referring to potato chips and french fries, the high-fat snacks that comprise a sizable portion of the daily servings of vegetables for many teenagers. A study at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, shows that nearly one-third of the vegetable servings eaten by youngsters aged 13 to 18 are in the form of potato chips and french fries. The figure climbs to 40% among African-American children in the age group.

The result is that, instead of receiving a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals, and fiber in a package that delivers little fat and relatively few calories, teens are getting a high-fat, high-calorie food with little nutritional value. "French fries and potato chips are no match for a serving of carrots, broccoli, or even a plain baked potato," indicates researcher Catherine Champagne.

Consider that a super-size serving of french fries at a popular fast-food chain contains 540 calories, nearly half of which is in the form of fat. "You can see why we are concerned about where and how our children are getting their servings...