Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Children and Adolescents: United States, August 2021–August 2023

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NCHS Health E-Stat 123, September 2026

by Nae Y. Won, Ph.D., M.P.H., Nicholas Ansai, M.P.H., Edwina A. Wambogo, Ph.D., M.S., M.P.H., R.D., and Namanjeet Ahluwalia, Ph.D., D.Sc.

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At a glance: Fruit and vegetable consumption, August 2021–August 2023

What do the data show?

The percentage of youth consuming fruit on a given day decreased with age across all fruit types. Although the percentage of youth consuming any vegetables did not change by age, the percentage of youth consuming dark green vegetables increased with age.

Who is most affected?

Adolescents ages 12–19 were the least likely to consume any fruit and children ages 2–5 were the least likely to consume dark green vegetables.

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Introduction

Fruits and vegetables are important sources of essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are needed to support the growth and development of children and adolescents (1–3). Different fruits and vegetables contain varying amounts and types of nutrients, so consuming an assortment of colorful, nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables is important (1). During 2015–2018, 75.3% of U.S. children and adolescents consumed any fruit on a given day and 91.0% consumed any vegetables (3). This report provides updated estimates of the percentage of U.S. children and adolescents ages 2–19 who consumed fruit and vegetables, including the types of fruit and vegetables, on a given day during August 2021–August 2023.

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Results

During August 2021–August 2023, the percentage of children and adolescents who consumed any fruit on a given day decreased with age (Figure 1, Table 1):

  • All children and adolescents: 77.0%
  • Ages 2–5: 91.8%
  • Ages 6–11: 83.3%
  • Ages 12–19: 66.2%

The percentage of children and adolescents who consumed each fruit type or fruit juice decreased with age (Figure 1, Table 1):

  • Citrus, melons, or berries:
    • All children and adolescents: 37.2%
    • Ages 2–5: 53.9%
    • Ages 6–11: 44.1%
    • Ages 12–19: 25.3%
  • Other whole fruit:
    • All children and adolescents: 55.5%
    • Ages 2–5: 71.4%
    • Ages 6–11: 58.4%
    • Ages 12–19: 46.6%
  • 100% fruit juice:
    • All children and adolescents: 44.6%
    • Ages 2–5: 56.9%
    • Ages 6–11: 50.4%
    • Ages 12–19: 35.3%

Figure 1 is a bar chart showing the percentage of children and adolescents who consumed fruit on a given day by age group in the United States during August 2021–August 2023.
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During August 2021–August 2023, no significant change was seen by age in the percentage of children and adolescents who consumed any vegetables on a given day (Figure 2, Table 2):

  • All children and adolescents: 91.2%
  • Ages 2–5: 91.0%
  • Ages 6–11: 90.0%
  • Ages 12–19: 92.0%

The percentage of children and adolescents consuming dark green vegetables increased with age (Figure 2, Table 2):

  • All children and adolescents: 24.6%
  • Ages 2–5: 19.8%
  • Ages 6–11: 23.7%
  • Ages 12–19: 27.3%

The percentage of children and adolescents consuming other vegetables was lower among children ages 6–11 than among adolescents ages 12–19, with no other significant differences by age (Figure 2, Table 2):

  • All children and adolescents: 56.3%
  • Ages 2–5: 55.7%
  • Ages 6–11: 50.6%
  • Ages 12–19: 60.6%

Figure 2 is a bar chart showing the percentage of children and adolescents who consumed vegetables on a given day by age group in the United States during August 2021–August 2023.
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Data source and methods

Data from the August 2021–August 2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to estimate the percentage of children and adolescents consuming fruits and vegetables on a given day. NHANES is a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey that collects data from children and adults in the United States to assess health, nutrition, diet, and health behaviors. NHANES includes two 24-hour (midnight-to-midnight) dietary recalls collected using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) standardized Automated Multiple-Pass Method. For the August 2021–August 2023 survey cycle, day 1 dietary recalls were collected via telephone interviews conducted 3–7 days after the mobile examination center (MEC) visit, rather than in the MEC as in previous cycles (4). Limitations of dietary recall include misreporting and recall bias. However, dietary recall has been shown to be reliable for estimating population-level dietary intake (5,6).

Food groups (types) were defined in this analysis using a custom Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) file because the August 2021–August 2023 file was not yet available. The custom FPED file was developed by applying the established USDA procedures used to create earlier FPED files (7) and using the 2017–2018 food pattern equivalents assignments for ingredients.

All estimates were calculated using day 1 dietary recall sample weights and testing accounted for the complex survey design. Linear trends by age were assessed using orthogonal polynomials, and pairwise t tests were used to compare groups. All analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, N.C.) and SUDAAN version 11.0 (RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.).

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References

  1. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030. 10th Edition. Jan 2026. Available from: https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Good nutrition starts early. Apr 2026. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/features/good-nutrition-starts-early.html.
  3. Wambogo EA, Ansai N, Ahluwalia N, Ogden CL. Fruit and vegetable consumption of children and adolescents in the United States, 2015–2018. NCHS Data Brief. 2020 Nov(391):1–8. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db391-H.pdf.
  4. Williams AM, Terry A, Akinbami LJ, Ansai N, Ogden CL. What We Eat in America dietary data, NHANES: August 2021–August 2023 24-hour dietary recall interview mode change. Mar 2025. Available from: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/data/Nhanes/Public/2021/Whitepapers/Aug2023-What-We-Eat-In-America-Dietary-Data-Whitepaper.pdf.
  5. Subar AF, Freedman LS, Tooze JA, Kirkpatrick SI, Boushey CJ, Neuhouser ML, et al. Addressing current criticism regarding the value of self-report dietary data. J Nutr. 2015 Dec;145(12):2639–45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.115.219634.
  6. Park Y, Dodd KW, Kipnis V, Thompson FE, Potischman N, Schoeller DA, et al. Comparison of self-reported dietary intakes from the Automated Self-Administered 24-h recall, 4-d food records, and food-frequency questionnaires against recovery biomarkers. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018 Jan;107(1):80– DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqx002.
  7. Bowman SA, Clemens JC, Friday JE, Moshfegh AJ. Food Patterns Equivalents Database 2017–2018: Methodology and user guide. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Oct 2020. Available from: https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-bhnrc/beltsville-human-nutrition-research-center/food-surveys-research-group/docs/fped-methodology/.
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Suggested citation

Won NY, Ansai N, Wambogo EA, Ahluwalia N. Fruit and vegetable consumption among children and adolescents: United States, August 2021–August 2023. NCHS Health E-Stat. 2026 Sep;(123):1–9. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/252472.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Carolyn M. Greene, M.D., Acting Director
Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Associate Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
Alan E. Simon, M.D., Director
Lara J. Akinbami, M.D., Associate Director for Science

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