Adults Eating Less Fruit, Not Enough Veggies

(AP)  Most Americans still don't eat vegetables often enough, and fruit consumption is actually dropping a little, according to a new government report released Thursday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that last year about one-third of U.S. adults consumed fruit or fruit juice at least twice a day. That's down slightly from more than 34 percent in 2000.

Only about 26 percent ate vegetables three or more times a day, the same as in 2000. The statistics come from a national telephone survey of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

No state met federal goals of three-quarters of Americans eating enough fruit, and half eating enough vegetables. California ate the most fruit and Tennessee was best with vegetables. Oklahoma was at the bottom for fruit and South Dakota had the lowest vegetable consumption.

The report did not ask people which fruits and vegetables they ate the most. But a CDC study published last year concluded that orange juice is the top source of fruit among U.S. adults and adolescents, and potatoes are the favorite vegetable.

Health officials have been trying to promote fruits and vegetables — especially leafy greens — as healthy alternatives to salty, fatty and sugary foods. The goal is to curb the nation's obesity problem and reduce diabetes, heart disease and other maladies tied to bad diets.

The 2009 data are discouraging, said Dr. Jennifer Foltz, one of the study's authors.

"We aren't making progress, that's for sure," said Foltz, a CDC epidemiologist.

However, the study was done before a new wave of government efforts to promote home and community gardens and to expand the sale of fruits and vegetables at stores. A survey planned for 2011 hopefully will show an improvement, she said.

[tsigili]

Go to any restaurant, and you will get, predominantly, saturated fat and carbs. That's all.

With busy lives, people eat out most of the time. You figure it out.

You want to change it......change the restaurant industry.

[SunDog8259]

And restaurants sodium too. The only bad fats are man-made "trans-fats" saturated fats from animals or plants are actually quite healthy for humans. We survived on them for millions of years and some Eskimo still do. I often top my morning coffee with a Tablespoon or two of coconut oil or heavy cream. CO is an "artery clogging tropical oil" according to most RD's, 'diet experts' and nutritionists -- but, they are all sadly mistaken and they will come to realize it -- someday in the near future.

[mswolfestock]

I have always looked at healthy eating as an investment in my future, as important as saving and investing money for retirement. And what good would the money do for me if I didn't live long enough to reach retirement? The truth of the matter is this: Spending money on fruits and vegetables is a whole lot cheaper than going to the doctor all the time and taking prescription drugs. I couldn't imagine NOT eating fruits and veggies. I'm 56 years old, my cholesterol is below 160, I'm a size 10 or Medium, and I don't take any prescription drugs. I was lucky enough to grow up eating a balanced diet, and I suppose that is where it all started. But it's never too late to develop healthier (eating) habits in your life - grow a garden, visit your local Farmer's Market, plant fruit trees in your back yard, grow a neighborhood garden - the possibilities are endless.

[thejoker12]

The nutritional values have gone down significantly too. That should be factored in as well.

[stevador39]

Veggies sell in most stores forzen at $1.00 a pound. Orange juice concentrate is $1.22 to make eight, eight ounce glasses. Bananas are $.50 a pound, apples and grapefruit are sold by the bag at less than $1.00 a pound and canned fruits and veggies are available year round. Many people have too little information to make good nutrition choices. Convenience foods make it hard to care about nutrition. Finally we all delude ourselves about weight and the consequences of poor nutrition.

[SunDog8259]

Glad to see the "red meat causes cancer" non-sense article is gone, but modern fruits are not very healthy and corn is a grain -- not a vegetable.

[mitch0927]

I think it's mainly that the adults now were raised on Happy Meals

[mrystym]

The reason I have bought less fruit and veggies is because of the prices. When a head of lettuce sells between $1.85-2.20 it gets to be a tough decision...

[SunDog8259]

True, they [veggies]spoil quicker, are more expensive per pound, require more shopping and can't compare in nutrient value to meat, eggs, fish and nuts. Fruits? most have too much sugar for my taste.