Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

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From 2017 to 2020, people aged 2 years and older consumed 1.2 cups of fruit and vegetables per 1,000 calories.

Summary graph for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption- Click to see detailed view of graph

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Summary graph for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption- Click to see detailed view of graph

Background

People whose diets are rich in plant foods such as fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of getting cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, and lung, and some evidence suggests that maintaining a diet rich in plant foods also lowers the risk of cancers of the colon, pancreas, and prostate. This diet also reduces the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, helps to reduce calorie intake, and may help to control weight.

To help prevent the aforementioned cancers and other chronic diseases, experts recommend the daily consumption of 2 to 6.5 cups of fruits and vegetables, depending on one’s energy needs. This includes 1 to 2.5 cups of fruits and 1 to 4 cups of vegetables, with special emphasis on dark green and orange vegetables and legumes. There is no evidence that the popular white potato protects against cancer.

Measure

Average daily cup equivalents per 1,000 calories of fruits and vegetables for people aged 2 years and older. This measure includes fruits and vegetables from all sources.

Data Source

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Food Surveys Research Group (Beltsville, MD). Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals 1994-96.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

The NHANES 2017-2018 data point was replaced with the NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-pandemic data point. More information is available at NHANES Questionnaires, Datasets, and Related Documentation.

Healthy People 2030 Target

  • Increase the consumption of fruits by persons aged 2 years and over to 0.56 cup equivalents of fruit per 1,000 calories.
  • Increase the consumption of total vegetables by persons aged 2 years and over to 0.84 cup equivalents of total vegetables per 1,000 calories.

Healthy People 2030 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Note: Goals are indicated as blue line on Detailed Trend Graphs.

Trends and Most Recent Estimates

Overall Comparison
Average cups of fruit and vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older, 1994-2020
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2020)
Average cups per 1,000 calories 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Average cups of fruit and vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older, 1994-2020 Fruit and Vegetables CombinedClick to see the detailed trend graph for Fruit and Vegetables Combined 1.2 1.2 - 1.3
FruitClick to see the detailed trend graph for Fruit 0.5 0.5 - 0.5
VegetablesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Vegetables 0.7 0.7 - 0.8
The 2017 to 2020 data point is from the NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-pandemic dataset. This includes data from the NHANES 2017-2018 survey combined with data collected for the 2019-2020 NHANES survey before field operations were shut down due to the Covid pandemic.
Fruit and Vegetables Combined
By Sex
Average cups of fruit and vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by sex, 1994-2020
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2020)
Average cups per 1,000 calories 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Average cups of fruit and vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by sex, 1994-2020 Both SexesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Both Sexes 1.2 1.2 - 1.3
MaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Male 1.1 1.0 - 1.1
FemaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female 1.3 1.3 - 1.4
The 2017 to 2020 data point is from the NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-pandemic dataset. This includes data from the NHANES 2017-2018 survey combined with data collected for the 2019-2020 NHANES survey before field operations were shut down due to the Covid pandemic.
By Race/Ethnicity
Average cups of fruit and vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by race/ethnicity, 1994-2020
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2020)
Average cups per 1,000 calories 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Average cups of fruit and vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by race/ethnicity, 1994-2020 All Races/EthnicitiesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races/Ethnicities 1.2 1.2 - 1.3
Non-Hispanic WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic White 1.2 1.1 - 1.2
Non-Hispanic BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic Black 1.1 1.1 - 1.2
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 1.4 1.3 - 1.5
The 2017 to 2020 data point is from the NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-pandemic dataset. This includes data from the NHANES 2017-2018 survey combined with data collected for the 2019-2020 NHANES survey before field operations were shut down due to the Covid pandemic.
By Poverty Income Level
Average cups of fruit and vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by poverty income level, 1994-2020
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2020)
Average cups per 1,000 calories 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Average cups of fruit and vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by poverty income level, 1994-2020 <200% of Federal Poverty LevelClick to see the detailed trend graph for <200% of Federal Poverty Level 1.2 1.1 - 1.2
>=200% of Federal Poverty LevelClick to see the detailed trend graph for >=200% of Federal Poverty Level 1.2 1.2 - 1.3
The 2017 to 2020 data point is from the NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-pandemic dataset. This includes data from the NHANES 2017-2018 survey combined with data collected for the 2019-2020 NHANES survey before field operations were shut down due to the Covid pandemic.
Fruit
By Sex
Average cups of fruit consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by sex, 1994-2020
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2020)
Average cups per 1,000 calories 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Average cups of fruit consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by sex, 1994-2020 Both SexesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Both Sexes 0.5 0.5 - 0.5
MaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Male 0.4 0.4 - 0.5
FemaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female 0.5 0.5 - 0.6
The 2017 to 2020 data point is from the NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-pandemic dataset. This includes data from the NHANES 2017-2018 survey combined with data collected for the 2019-2020 NHANES survey before field operations were shut down due to the Covid pandemic.
By Race/Ethnicity
Average cups of fruit consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by race/ethnicity, 1994-2020
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2020)
Average cups per 1,000 calories 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Average cups of fruit consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by race/ethnicity, 1994-2020 All Races/EthnicitiesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races/Ethnicities 0.5 0.5 - 0.5
Non-Hispanic WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic White 0.4 0.4 - 0.5
Non-Hispanic BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic Black 0.5 0.4 - 0.5
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 0.6 0.5 - 0.7
The 2017 to 2020 data point is from the NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-pandemic dataset. This includes data from the NHANES 2017-2018 survey combined with data collected for the 2019-2020 NHANES survey before field operations were shut down due to the Covid pandemic.
By Poverty Income Level
Average cups of fruit consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by poverty income level, 1994-2020
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2020)
Average cups per 1,000 calories 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Average cups of fruit consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by poverty income level, 1994-2020 <200% of Federal Poverty LevelClick to see the detailed trend graph for <200% of Federal Poverty Level 0.5 0.4 - 0.5
>=200% of Federal Poverty LevelClick to see the detailed trend graph for >=200% of Federal Poverty Level 0.5 0.5 - 0.5
The 2017 to 2020 data point is from the NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-pandemic dataset. This includes data from the NHANES 2017-2018 survey combined with data collected for the 2019-2020 NHANES survey before field operations were shut down due to the Covid pandemic.
Vegetables
By Sex
Average cups of vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by sex, 1994-2020
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2020)
Average cups per 1,000 calories 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Average cups of vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by sex, 1994-2020 Both SexesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Both Sexes 0.7 0.7 - 0.8
MaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Male 0.7 0.6 - 0.7
FemaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female 0.8 0.8 - 0.9
The 2017 to 2020 data point is from the NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-pandemic dataset. This includes data from the NHANES 2017-2018 survey combined with data collected for the 2019-2020 NHANES survey before field operations were shut down due to the Covid pandemic.
By Race/Ethnicity
Average cups of vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by race/ethnicity, 1994-2020
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2020)
Average cups per 1,000 calories 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Average cups of vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by race/ethnicity, 1994-2020 All Races/EthnicitiesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races/Ethnicities 0.7 0.7 - 0.8
Non-Hispanic WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic White 0.7 0.7 - 0.8
Non-Hispanic BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic Black 0.7 0.6 - 0.7
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 0.8 0.7 - 0.8
The 2017 to 2020 data point is from the NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-pandemic dataset. This includes data from the NHANES 2017-2018 survey combined with data collected for the 2019-2020 NHANES survey before field operations were shut down due to the Covid pandemic.
By Poverty Income Level
Average cups of vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by poverty income level, 1994-2020
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2020)
Average cups per 1,000 calories 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Average cups of vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories by individuals aged 2 years and older by poverty income level, 1994-2020 <200% of Federal Poverty LevelClick to see the detailed trend graph for <200% of Federal Poverty Level 0.7 0.7 - 0.7
>=200% of Federal Poverty LevelClick to see the detailed trend graph for >=200% of Federal Poverty Level 0.8 0.7 - 0.8
The 2017 to 2020 data point is from the NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-pandemic dataset. This includes data from the NHANES 2017-2018 survey combined with data collected for the 2019-2020 NHANES survey before field operations were shut down due to the Covid pandemic.

Related Cancers

Statistical summaries from NCI's SEER Cancer Stat Fact Sheets:

Additional Information

Year Range

1994-2020

Recent Summary Trend Year Range

2013/14-2017/20

Recent Summary Trend

Falling

Desired Direction

Rising

Summary Tables

Diet and Alcohol