NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 156 ■ July 2014

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption of U.S. Youth, 2009–2010

Samara Joy Nielsen, Ph.D., M.Div.; Lauren M. Rossen, Ph.D., M.S.; 

Diane M. Harris, Ph.D., M.P.H.; and Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D., M.R.P.

Key findings 

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey, 

2009–2010

• More than three-quarters of 

youth aged 2–19 years (77.1%) 

consumed fruit on a given day.

• Almost 92% of youth 

aged 2–19 years consumed 

vegetables on a given day.

• Nine out of 10 children 

aged 2–5 years consumed 

fruit, while only 6 out of 10 

adolescents consumed fruit on 

a given day.

• More children aged 2–5 

years than adolescents 

consumed vegetables on a 

given day.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), 2010 encourage Americans, 

including youth, to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables. 

Individuals are encouraged to “eat a variety of vegetables, especially dark-green 

and red and orange vegetables.” Fruits and vegetables are sources of many

under-consumed nutrients and consuming fruits and vegetables is associated 

with a decreased risk of chronic disease (1–3). This report examines the 

percentage of youth aged 2–19 years who consumed fruits and vegetables on a 

given day in 2009–2010, using data from one 24-hour dietary recall interview.

Keywords: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

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

youth who consumed fruit on a given day in 2009–2010?

More than three-quarters (77.1%) of all youth aged 2–19 years consumed any 

fruit on a given day; 29.7% consumed citrus, melon, and/or berries, 50.4% 

Figure 1. Percentage of youth aged 2–19 years who consumed fruit on a given day:

United States, 2009–2010

Total 2–5 years 6–11 years 12–19 years

1

Linear trend by age, p < 0.001.

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 1 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db156_table.pdf#1.

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

0

20

40

60

80

100

Citrus, melons, Other fruits Fruit juice

berries

Any

1

37.2

29.7

35.7

21.6

1

69.2

50.4 52.9

39.1

1

72.1

53.0 55.1

42.1

1

91.7

77.1

82.0

66.3

Percent
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 156 ■ July 2014

■  2  ■

consumed other fruit, and 53.0% drank fruit juice (Figure 1).

The percentage of youth who consumed fruit decreased with age, both for any fruit and for 

specific types of fruit (citrus, melon, and berries; other fruit; and fruit juice). For example, 91.7% 

of children aged 2–5 years, 82.0% of children aged 6–11 years, and 66.3% of adolescents aged 

12–19 years consumed any fruit on a given day in 2009–2010. Similarly, about one-third of 

children aged 2–5 years (37.2%) and children aged 6–11 years (35.7%) consumed citrus, melon, 

and/or berries, while only 21.6% of adolescents aged 12–19 years consumed citrus, melon, 

and/or berries. About two-thirds (69.2%) of children aged 2–5 years consumed other fruit, while 

approximately one-half (52.9%) of children aged 6–11 years and 39.1% of adolescents aged 

12–19 years consumed other fruit on a given day. Similarly, 72.1% of children aged 2–5 years, 

55.1% of children aged 6–11 years, and 42.1% of adolescents aged 12–19 years consumed fruit 

juice.

Were there differences by age in the percentage of U.S. youth who 

consumed vegetables on a given day in 2009–2010?

Almost 92% of youth aged 2–19 years consumed any vegetables on a given day in 2009–2010. 

More than 11% consumed dark green vegetables, 75.1% consumed red and/or orange vegetables, 

53.0% consumed starchy vegetables, and 60.1% consumed other vegetables 

(Figure 2). 

Figure 2. Percentage of youth aged 2–19 years who consumed vegetables on a given day: United States, 2009–2010

Total 2–5 years 6–11 years 12–19 years

1

Linear trend by age, p < 0.05. 2

Linear trend by age, p < 0.01.

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 2 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db156_table.pdf#2.

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

0

20

40

60

80

100

Any Dark green Red and orange Starchy Other

2

55.3

60.1 57.664.4 2

56.4

53.0 54.9

49.8

74.2 75.1 76.074.9

1

15.6

11.5 10.710.1

1

93.3 91.9

93.7

90.0

Percent

The percentage of youth who consumed any vegetables, dark green vegetables, and starchy 

vegetables decreased slightly with age. For example, 93.3% of children aged 2–5 years and 

93.7% of children aged 6–11 years consumed any vegetables on a given day, while 90.0% of 

adolescents aged 12–19 years consumed vegetables on a given day. About 16% of children 

aged 2–5 years, 10.7% of children aged 6–11 years, and 10.1% of adolescents aged 12–19 years 

consumed dark green vegetables on a given day. More than 56% of children aged 2–5 years, 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 156 ■ July 2014

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54.9% of children aged 6–11 years, and about one-half (49.8%) of adolescents aged 12–19 years 

consumed starchy vegetables on a given day. 

The percentage of youth who consumed other vegetables increased slightly with age. More than 

one-half (55.3%) of children aged 2–5 years, 57.6% of children aged 6–11 years, and 64.4% of 

adolescents aged 12–19 years consumed other vegetables on a given day.

Were there differences by race and Hispanic origin in the percentage of 

U.S. youth who consumed fruit on a given day in 2009–2010?

Differences existed by race and Hispanic origin in the percentage of youth who consumed fruit. 

On a given day, more non-Hispanic black youth (81.9%) than non-Hispanic white youth (74.8%) 

consumed any fruit (Figure 3). In contrast, fewer non-Hispanic black youth (20.2%) than both 

non-Hispanic white youth (33.1%) and Hispanic youth (26.9%) consumed citrus, melon, 

and/or berries. Almost one-half (46.3%) of non-Hispanic white youth consumed juice, while 

68.8% of non-Hispanic black youth and 58.3% of Hispanic youth consumed juice. Approximately 

50% of youth consumed other fruit, but there were no differences between race and Hispanic 

origin groups.

Figure 3. Percentage of youth aged 2–19 years who consumed fruit on a given day, by race and Hispanic origin: 

United States, 2009–2010

Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic black Hispanic

1

Statistically significant difference between non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black youth, p < 0.05. 2

Statistically significant difference between non-Hispanic black and Hispanic youth, p < 0.05. 3

Statistically significant difference between non-Hispanic white and Hispanic youth, p < 0.001.

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 3 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db156_table.pdf#3.

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

0

20

40

60

80

100

Citrus, melons, Other fruits Fruit juice

berries

Any

Percent

81.9 1

74.8 77.8

2

20.2

1

33.1

26.9

49.1 50.8 49.6

2

68.8

1,346.3

58.3
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 156 ■ July 2014

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Were there differences by race and Hispanic origin in the percentage of 

U.S. youth who consumed vegetables on a given day in 2009–2010?

No differences existed by race and Hispanic origin in the percentage of youth who consumed any 

vegetables. This was also true for dark green vegetables and red and orange vegetables (Figure 4).

More non-Hispanic black youth (60.0%) consumed starchy vegetables compared with 

non-Hispanic white youth (52.1%) and Hispanic youth (49.3%). A higher proportion of Hispanic 

youth consumed other vegetables (66.1%) on a given day, compared to non-Hispanic white youth 

(59.0%) and non-Hispanic black youth (55.8%).

Figure 4. Percentage of youth aged 2–19 years who consumed vegetables on a given day, by race and Hispanic origin: 

United States, 2009–2010 

Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic black Hispanic

1

Statistically significant difference between non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black youth, p < 0.01. 2

Statistically significant difference between non-Hispanic black and Hispanic youth, p < 0.01. 3

Statistically significant difference between non-Hispanic white and Hispanic youth, p < 0.05.

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 4 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db156_table.pdf#4.

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

0

20

40

60

80

100

Any Dark green Red and orange Starchy Other

Percent

90.9 92.4 92.5

13.5

9.7 11.9

73.1 75.6 78.8

2

60.0 1

52.1 49.3

2

55.8 3

59.0

66.1
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 156 ■ July 2014

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Summary

On a given day during 2009–2010, more than three-quarters of youth aged 2–19 years consumed 

fruit, and 9 out of 10 consumed vegetables. 

There were differences in consumption of fruits and vegetables by age. A greater percentage of 

children aged 2–5 years consumed any fruit and each category of fruit than did adolescents aged 

12–19 years. Smaller differences exist in vegetable consumption by age. Slightly more children 

aged 2–5 years consumed dark green and starchy vegetables compared with adolescents. In 

contrast, more adolescents than children aged 2–5 years consumed other vegetables.

Fewer race and Hispanic origin differences existed in the percentage of youth who consumed 

vegetables than in the percentage who consumed fruit. More non-Hispanic black youth than 

non-Hispanic white youth and Hispanic youth consumed fruit juice. A smaller percentage of 

non-Hispanic black youth, however, consumed citrus, melon, and/or berries on a given day 

compared to the other race and Hispanic origin groups. The only differences in vegetable 

consumption were in starchy vegetable and other vegetable consumption. A greater percentage of 

non-Hispanic black youth compared to other race and Hispanic origin groups consumed starchy 

vegetables. More Hispanic youth consumed other vegetables in comparison to the other race and 

Hispanic origin groups.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food pattern, a food pattern consistent with the 

DGA, 2010, states that everyone, including youth, should consume at least the equivalent of 

1 cup of fruit and 1 cup of vegetables daily. The total amount depends on the individual’s 

estimated caloric needs (1). Increasing U.S. fruit and vegetable consumption is a national public 

health priority (4). These results show that a high percentage of youth do consume at least some 

fruits and vegetables on a given day. However, about one-quarter of youth did not consume any 

fruit on a given day. Less than 10% of youth did not consume any vegetables on a given day.

Definitions

Food groups are from the USDA Food Patterns Equivalents Database (5). The National Health 

and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collects dietary intake information using 24-hour 

dietary recall interviews. The USDA Food Patterns Equivalents Database is a file that contains the 

NHANES 24-hour dietary data in a form that represents food patterns related to recommendations 

in the DGA (e.g., fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein) in equivalent amounts (5).

The Fruit Group consists of three components: citrus, melons, and berries; other fruits; and 

fruit juice (5). The citrus, melons, and berries component includes blackberries, blueberries, 

cranberries, currants, dewberries, huckleberries, kiwifruit, loganberries, mulberries, raspberries, 

and strawberries; melons, such as cantaloupe, casaba, honeydew, and watermelon; and citrus 

fruit, such as calamondins, grapefruits, kumquats, lemons, limes, mandarin oranges, oranges, 

tangerines, and tangelos (5). The other fruits component includes apples, apricots, bananas, 

cherries, dates, figs, grapes, guavas, lychees, mangoes, nectarines, papayas, passion fruits, 

peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, pomegranates, prunes, raisins, rhubarbs, and tamarinds (5). 

The fruit juice component includes juice of citrus, melons, berries, and other fruits (5).
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 156 ■ July 2014

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The Vegetables Group consists of four components: dark green, red and orange, starchy, and 

other. Vegetable juices were included with the respective vegetables (5). Dark green vegetables 

include arugula, basil, beet greens, bitter melon leaves, broccoli, Chinese cabbage (pak choi), 

chrysanthemum garland, chard, cilantro, collards, cress, dandelion greens, kale, lambsquarters, 

lettuce (Boston, butterhead, cos, romaine, green leaf, and red leaf), mustard cabbage, mustard 

greens, parsley, poke greens, recaito (Puerto Rican little coriander), spinach, turnip greens, and 

watercress (5). Red and orange vegetables include calabazas (Spanish pumpkin), carrots, red 

chili peppers, red or orange bell peppers, pimentos, pumpkins, squash (most winter types), sweet 

potatoes, and tomatoes (5). Starchy vegetables include breadfruit, burdock, cassava (yuca blanca), 

corn, lima beans, immature peas (e.g., cowpeas, black-eyed peas, green peas, and pigeon peas), 

jicama or yambeans, plantain, poi, white potatoes, salsify, tapioca, taro, water chestnuts, and yams 

(5). Other vegetables include artichokes, asparagus, avocados, bamboo shoots, beans (green and 

string), bean sprouts, beets, bitter melons (bitter gourd and balsam pear), broccoflower, Brussels 

sprouts, cabbage (green, red, and savoy), cactus (nopales), cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chayote or 

christophine, chives, cucumber, eggplant, fennel bulb, garlic, ginger root, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce 

(iceberg and others not included under dark green category), luffa (Chinese okra), mushrooms, 

okra, olives, onions, peppers (chili and bell types that are not red or orange in color), radicchio, 

sprouted beans (e.g., sprouted mung beans), radishes, rutabagas, squash (summer), snow peas, 

tomatillos, turnips, and winter melons (5).

Data source and methods

NHANES data for 2009–2010 were used for these analyses. NHANES is conducted by the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics to assess 

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 a mobile 

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

recall interview in the MEC. Dietary recalls cover intake during the day (24 hours) prior to the 

standardized physical examination on the MEC. Proxy interviews are done up to the age of 11. 

Youth aged 12 and over, in most cases, respond for themselves (6).

The sample design includes oversampling to obtain reliable estimates of health and nutritional 

measures for population subgroups. For 2009–2010, the Hispanic and non-Hispanic black 

populations were oversampled (7). Data were analyzed using the day 1 dietary sample weights 

to account for differential probabilities of selection, nonresponse, and noncoverage. The 

standard errors of the percentages were estimated using Taylor series linearization, a method that 

incorporates the sample design.

Differences between groups were evaluated using a t statistic at the p less than 0.05 significance 

level. Tests for linear trends by age were set at the p less than 0.05 significance level. All 

differences reported are statistically significant unless otherwise indicated. 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.).
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 156 ■ July 2014

■  7  ■

About the authors 

Samara Joy Nielsen and Cynthia L. Ogden are with CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics 

(NCHS), Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys; and Lauren M. Rossen is with 

NCHS Office of Analysis and Epidemiology. Diane M. Harris is with CDC’s National Center for 

Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

References

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary 

guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th ed. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 2010.

2. Shay CM, Stamler J, Dyer AR, Brown IJ, Chan Q, Elliott P, et al. Nutrient and food intakes 

of middle-aged adults at low risk of cardiovascular disease: The international study of 

macro-/micronutrients and blood pressure (INTERMAP). Eur J Nutr 51(8):917–26. 2012.

3. Bazzano LA, He J, Ogden LG, Loria CM, Vupputuri S, Myers L, Whelton PK. Fruit and 

vegetable intake and risk of cardiovascular disease in US adults: The first National Health and 

Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. Am J Clin Nutr 76(1):93–9. 2002.

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State indicator report on fruits and vegetables, 

2013. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services. 2013.

5. Bowman S, Clemens J, Thoerig R, et al. 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.

6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National 

Health and Nutrition Examination Survey MEC in-person dietary interviewers procedures 

manual. Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services. 2009. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/nhanes_09_10/

DietaryInterviewers_Inperson.pdf. 

7. Johnson CL, Paulose-Ram R, Ogden CL, et al. National Health and Nutrition Examination 

Survey: Analytic guidelines, 1999–2010. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 

2(161). 2013.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 156 ■ July 2014

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Suggested citation

Nielsen SJ, Rossen LM, Harris DM, Ogden 

CL. Fruit and vegetable consumption of U.S. 

youth, 2009–2010. NCHS data brief, no 156. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2014.

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

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition 

Examination Surveys 

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

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