The research revealed some age and gender gaps. Those ages 2 to 5 had the greatest ratio of fruit to total daily calories, and youth ages 12 to 18 had the greatest ratio of vegetables to total calories. Overall, girls ate more vegetables than boys.

The scientists note that school-lunch nutrition standards and other federally subsidized nutrition programs give most children equal access to both fruit and vegetables, but youths tend to prefer the taste of fruit. The report suggests it’s easier to incorporate fruit into children’s diets because it can be eaten on its own, on the go, or without much preparation.

kids eat vegitable

Here are the numbers:

67%

The percentage increase in U.S. children’s consumption of whole fruit in 2009-10 compared with 2003-04. Over the same period, children’s fruit juice consumption was down 29 percent.

0

The amount of change in American children’s vegetable intake during the seven years of the study. Unlike fruit, youths aren’t eating more vegetables than they used to.

30%

Of the vegetables children did report eating, 30 percent came from white potatoes. Those were mainly eaten in unhealthy forms like fries or chips.

93%

The percentage of American children who were not consuming the USDA recommended amount of vegetables in 2007-10, according to separate research from the National Cancer Institutes. And even with the increased fruit consumption, 60 percent of youths were still falling short of the USDA’s fruit recommendations.

 

J.M.
My name is Jonathan, I'm Humble, Laid back and an individual who's main focus is uplifting, empowering, and educating those in the "Struggle". As One who's been through the same or similar situations as most of my Comrades on here, I work to break the cycle of a continuum destruction plagued by violence, Drugs, illness and Hopelessness in our society. Each One Teach One is the Goal and Educating to empower minds is the Foundation.