Children Eating More Fruit, but Fruit and Vegetable Intake Still Too Low

Children in the U.S. ate 67% more whole fruit from 2003-2010, but the amount of vegetables they ate remained unchanged, according to the latest Vital Signs report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, from 2003-2010, children drank less juice, making whole fruit the main contributor of fruit to children’s diets, as recommended by experts. Though the findings about fruit are encouraging, children in the U.S. are still not eating the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. About 60 million children in the U.S. attend child care or school where the food they eat and the nutrition education they receive can affect their health and lifelong food choices. This Vital Signs report highlights ways child care providers and schools can help increase the amount of fruit and vegetables children eat each day. Child care, schools, and school districts can:

• Meet or exceed current federal nutrition standards for meals and snacks.
• Serve fruit and vegetables whenever food is offered.
• Train staff to make fruit and vegetables more appealing and accessible.
• Provide nutrition education and hands-on learning opportunities, such as growing, tasting, and preparing fruit and vegetables.

CDC funds state and local public health departments to support healthier food environments in child care settings and schools. At home, parents can encourage children to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, even if it takes many tries. They can also help their children eat more of these foods by modeling healthy eating habits, providing fruit and vegetables as snacks instead of less healthy items, and including their children when shopping for, growing, and preparing fruits and vegetables.

Children eating more fruit, but fruit and vegetable intake still too low

Children eating more fruit, but fruit and vegetable intake still too low

The amount of whole fruit children ate increased by 67% from 2003 to 2010 but remained low.

9 in 10 children didn't eat enough vegetables in 2007-2010.

The amount of fruit juice children drank descreased by nearly one-third from 2003 to 2010.

Children, ages 2-18, are eating more fruits, but not more vegetables (2003 to 2010).

How much fruit and vegetables do children need daily?

La cantidad de frutas entaras que los niños comieron aumentó un 67% del 2003 al 2010, pero siguió sendo baja.

9 de cada 10 niños no cimieron suficinetes verduras entre el 2007 y el 2010.

La cantida de jugo de frutas que los niños deberion disminuyó en casi un tercio del 2003 al 2010.

Los niños de 2 a 18 años estain comlendo más frutas pero no más verduras (2003 al 2010).

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¿Qué cantidad de frutas y verduras necesitan diariamente los niños?

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