March 8, 2023 – Half of young children within the United States don’t eat vegetables on daily basis, based on a brand new report.
Overall, children ate more fruit than vegetables day by day. One-year-olds ate more fruit and vegetables than 2- to 5-year-olds, and the youngest children also drank fewer sugar-sweetened beverages.
The report was released by the CDC. The data included dietary intake information for 18,386 children ages 1 to five years old from the CDC's 2021 National Survey of Children's Health.
Key findings of the report include:
- 1 in 3 children didn’t eat fruit on daily basis
- 49% didn’t eat vegetables on daily basis
- More than half (57%) drank a sugar-sweetened beverage a minimum of once every week
Whether children eat vegatables and fruits day by day relies on race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Black children are the least more likely to eat vegatables and fruits day by day: 65% don’t get vegetables a minimum of at some point per week and 51% don’t get fruit. Households that reported not at all times having the ability to afford enough to eat were significantly more more likely to report that their children don’t eat vegatables and fruits day by day.
The researchers also examined state-level data and located that healthy eating varied by where children lived. In 20 states, greater than half of kids didn’t eat vegetables day by day. The state with one of the best record was Vermont, where about 70% of kids ate vegetables day by day. The state with the worst record was Louisiana, where about 35% of kids ate vegetables day by day.
The authors imagine the findings should help develop tailored programs that contribute to healthier nutrition for young children, which in turn could reduce long-term health risks.
“Toddlers need certain nutrients to support their optimal growth and development,” they write. “A food regimen wealthy in vegatables and fruits will help provide these nutrients. Limiting or reducing foods and beverages high in added sugar, including sugar-sweetened beverages, is essential because added sugar is related to an increased risk of obesity, dental problems, and other diseases. [problems]Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.”