HEALTHY DIET/ 5 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

A healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables is essential for preventing chronic diseases and promoting overall health & well-being. However, the vast majority of Americans, around 80%, failed to meet recommended intake levels in 2021. This trend holds across all age groups over time, as there were no significant increases in fruit and vegetable consumption between 2011 and 2021.

College-educated Americans eat fruits and vegetables more often than those with less education. Among Americans with lower education and income levels, young adults tend to eat slightly more fruits and vegetables than older adults. In recent years (between 2017 and 2021), individuals with at least some college education reported the largest decline in the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption, a pattern mirrored by those in the middle-high and highest income brackets. Overall, it appears that Americans, regardless of demographic group, are falling short in their fruit and vegetable consumption.