U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Nut Consumption Among U.S. Youth, 2009–2012

Samara Joy Nielsen, Ph.D., M.Div.; Kirsten A. Herrick, Ph.D., M.Sc.; Lara J. Akinbami, M.D.; 

and Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D., M.R.P.

Key findings

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey

● During 2009–2012, 32.4% 

of youth consumed nuts 

(including seeds and nut 

butters) on a given day.

● A higher percentage of 

non-Hispanic white youth 

(37.6%) than non-Hispanic 

black (24.3%) or Hispanic 

(25.0%) youth consumed nuts.

● Almost 44.0% of youth in 

households at or above 350% 

of the poverty level consumed 

nuts, compared with 25.4% 

of youth in households below 

130% of the poverty level. 

● Slightly less than 40% 

of nuts were consumed as a 

single-item food and not as an 

ingredient in candy, breads, 

cakes, cookies, cereals, or other 

dishes.

Nut consumption has been associated with improved weight status (1,2), 

nutrient intake (3), and diet quality (4,5) among youth. However, allergies 

to nuts among children may be increasing (6,7), which may lead to higher 

vigilance over nut exposure in schools and other public settings (8,9). This 

data brief examines the percentage of youth consuming nuts, including seeds 

and nut butters, on a given day. In addition, the source of nuts consumed is 

examined (i.e., the percentages of nuts consumed as a single-item food and as 

part of other foods).

Keyword: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 

Were there differences by sex and age in the percentage of 

U.S. youth who consumed nuts on a given day?

Approximately one-third of U.S. youth (32.4%) consumed nuts or seeds 

(referred to as nuts) on a given day (Figure 1). As age increased, the 

Figure 1. Percentage of youth aged 2–19 years who consumed nuts on a given day, by sex and 

age: United States, 2009–2012

1

Significant linear trend by age (p < 0.05).

NOTES: No significant difference was seen between boys and girls. Nuts include seeds and nut butters. Access data table for 

Figure 1 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db238_table.pdf#1.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. 

NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 238 ■ March 2016
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 238 ■ March 2016

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percentage of youth consuming nuts decreased. Among those aged 2–5 years, 35.2% consumed 

nuts, while among those aged 12–19, 30.1% consumed nuts on a given day during 2009–2012. 

Similar patterns by age were seen in boys and girls but were not significant. The percentage of 

youth consuming nuts did not differ between boys and girls in any age group.

Were there differences by age and race and Hispanic origin in the 

percentage of U.S. youth who consumed nuts on a given day? 

Nut consumption varied by age and race and Hispanic origin (Figure 2). More non-Hispanic 

white youth consumed nuts (37.6%) than non-Hispanic black (24.3%) or Hispanic (25.0%) youth. 

This pattern was seen in each age group. Among youth aged 2–5 years, 41.7% of non-Hispanic 

white youth, 28.6% of non-Hispanic black youth, and 23.9% of Hispanic youth consumed nuts. 

Similarly, among youth aged 6–11 years, 41.1% of non-Hispanic white youth, 23.4% of 

non-Hispanic black youth, and 23.2% of Hispanic youth consumed nuts. By comparison, among 

older youth aged 12–19 years, 33.3% of non-Hispanic white youth, 22.9% of non-Hispanic 

black youth, and 27.0% of Hispanic youth consumed nuts (although the Hispanic group was not 

statistically different from the aged 12–19 non-Hispanic white group).

Among non-Hispanic white youth, those aged 12–19 years had lower consumption (33.3%) than 

children aged 2–5 (41.7%) and 6–11 (41.1%) years. Among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic 

youth, no significant differences were seen between the age groups. Specifically, among 

non-Hispanic black youth, 28.6% of those aged 2–5 years, 23.4% of those aged 6–11 years, and 

Figure 2. Percentage of youth aged 2–19 years who consumed nuts on a given day, by age and race and Hispanic 

origin: United States, 2009–2012

1

No difference between age groups 2–5 years and 6–11 years; age group 12–19 years is significantly different from other age groups (p < 0.05). 2

Age groups not significantly different from one another.

3

Significantly different from non-Hispanic white (p < 0.05).

NOTES: Nuts include seeds and nut butters. Access data table for Figure 2 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db238_table.pdf#2. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 238 ■ March 2016

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22.9% of those aged 12–19 years consumed nuts on a given day. Among Hispanic youth, 23.9% 

of those aged 2–5 years, 23.2% of those aged 6–11 years, and 27.0% of those aged 12–19 years 

consumed nuts on a given day.

Were there differences by age and poverty status in the percentage of U.S. 

youth who consumed nuts on a given day?

As income increased, nut consumption increased (Figure 3). Among youth living in households 

below 130% of the poverty level, 25.4% consumed nuts. Among youth living at 130% up to 

350% of the poverty level, 32.0% consumed nuts, and among youth at or above 350% of the 

poverty level, 43.9% consumed nuts. This pattern was seen within each age group. Among youth 

aged 2–5 years, 28.2% of those below 130% of the poverty level, 36.3% of those at 130% up to 

350% of the poverty level, and 49.5% of those at or above 350% of the poverty level consumed 

nuts. Similarly, among youth aged 6–11 years, 24.4% of those below 130% of the poverty level, 

31.8% of those at 130% up to 350% of the poverty level, and 50.3% of those at or above 350% 

of the poverty level consumed nuts. Among older youth aged 12–19 years, 24.4% of those below 

130% of the poverty level, 29.9% of those at 130% up to 350% of the poverty level, and 37.0% of 

those at or above 350% of the poverty level consumed nuts.

For youth in households below 130% of the poverty level or at 130% up to 350% of the poverty 

level, age differences in nut consumption on a given day were not statistically significant. For 

youth at or above 350% of the poverty level, those aged 2–5 years (49.5%) and 6–11 years 

(50.3%) had greater nut consumption than youth aged 12–19 years (37.0%). 

Figure 3. Percentage of youth aged 2–19 years who consumed nuts on a given day, by age and poverty status: 

United States, 2009–2012

1

Age groups not significantly different from each other.

2

No difference between age groups 2–5 years and 6–11 years; age group 12–19 years is significantly different from other age groups (p < 0.05).

NOTES: PL is poverty level. Nuts include seeds and nut butters. Significant linear trend was seen by poverty status (p < 0.001) overall and for each age group. 

Access data table for Figure 3 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db238_table.pdf#3.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 238 ■ March 2016

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What was the source of nuts consumed during 2009–2012?

Approximately 40% of nuts consumed on a given day (39.5%) were consumed as a singleitem food and not as an ingredient in candy, breads, cakes, cookies, cereals, or other mixed 

dishes (Figure 4). About one-third of nuts consumed (34.4%) were part of a grain-based food. 

Approximately one-fifth of nuts consumed (19.4%) were part of a candy food item. Almost 7% of 

nuts consumed (6.7%) were from other sources, including ice cream, cheese, and mixed dishes.

Figure 4. Source of nuts consumed on a given day among youth aged 2–19 years: United States, 2009–2012

1

Include seeds and nut butters (as a single-item food only). 

2

Include breads, cakes, cookies, cereals, and nutrition bars.

3

Includes ice cream, cheese, and mixed dishes.

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 4 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db238_table.pdf#4. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 238 ■ March 2016

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Summary

About one-third of U.S. youth consumed nuts on a given day in 2009–2012. Older youth were 

less likely to consume nuts than younger youth. More non-Hispanic white than non-Hispanic 

black or Hispanic youth consumed nuts. More youth living in households at or above 350% of 

the poverty level consumed nuts than youth in households below 130% poverty or at 130% up to 

350% of the poverty level.

Although previous guidance suggested that timing of the introduction of nuts into children’s 

diets may play a role in allergies, this guidance has recently been revised (10). There is a lack of 

evidence linking early introduction of nuts to development of allergy (10). This analysis did not 

include infants under the age of 1 year but did find that consumption of nuts was higher among 

younger children.

More than one-third of nut consumption among youth (39.5%) occurs as a single-item food (i.e., 

not as an ingredient in other foods). Nuts are an alternate source of protein (11,12), especially for 

youth. Nuts are also high in mono- and polyunsaturated fats and fiber, and are a rich source of 

antioxidants such as selenium and vitamin E. Some nuts, especially walnuts and pumpkin seeds, 

are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids (13).

Definitions

Nuts and seeds: Refers to almonds, almond butter, almond paste, Brazil nuts, cashews, cashew 

butter, chestnuts, flax seeds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, peanut flour, 

pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, squash seeds, sesame butter (tahini), sesame seeds, 

sesame paste, sunflower seeds, and walnuts (14,15).

Nut consumer: Any person who reported consuming foods containing nuts, as defined by the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Patterns Equivalents Database nut and seed food group, 

during the 24-hour recall component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 

(NHANES).
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Data source and methods

NHANES data for 2009–2012 were used for these analyses. NHANES, conducted by the Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, assesses the health 

and nutritional status of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. The survey combines an 

in-home interview and a standardized physical examination at the NHANES mobile examination 

center (MEC). For this report, data were collected via an in-person 24-hour dietary recall 

interview (16) in the MEC. The dietary recall covers intake during the day (24 hours) prior to the 

standardized physical examination in the MEC. The USDA Food Patterns Equivalents Database 

(14,15) was used to identify which reported foods were nuts (and seeds) or contained nuts (and 

seeds). 

NHANES includes oversampling to obtain reliable estimates of health and nutritional measures 

for population subgroups. Day 1 dietary sample weights were used to account for day of the 

week, differential probabilities of selection, nonresponse, and noncoverage. The standard errors 

of the percentages were estimated using Taylor series linearization to account for the complex 

survey sampling design.

Unadjusted prevalence estimates are presented because the objective of this analysis was to 

show the percentage of the youth population that actually consumed nuts. Differences between 

groups, and tests for linear trends, were evaluated using a t statistic at the p less than or equal to 

0.05 significance level. Statistical analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.3 (SAS Institute, 

Cary, N.C.) and SUDAAN version 11.0 (RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.).

About the authors

Samara Joy Nielsen, Kirsten A. Herrick, Lara J. Akinbami, and Cynthia L. Ogden are with CDC’s 

National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 238 ■ March 2016

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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 238 ■ March 2016

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15. Bowman SA, Clemens JC, Thoerig RC, Friday JE, Shimizu M,

Moshfegh AJ. Food Patterns Equivalents Database 2009–10: Methodology 

and user guide. Beltsville, MD: Food Surveys Research Group, Beltsville 

Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture. 2013.

16. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition

Examination Survey: Questionnaires, datasets, and related documentation. 

Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes_questionnaires.htm.

Suggested citation

Nielsen SJ, Herrick KA, Akinbami LJ, 

Ogden CL. Nut consumption among U.S. 

youth, 2009–2012. NCHS data brief, no 238. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2016.

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

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Nathaniel Schenker, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition 

Examination Surveys

Kathryn S. Porter, M.D., M.S., Director

Ryne Paulose-Ram, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science