If your holiday weekend includes some big meals, here’s something to chew on: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says only one in 10 Americans eats the right amount of fruits or vegetables. In Arizona, we do a little better.
Maybe we can thank our citrus trees for 13 percent of Arizona respondents eating the recommended amount of fruit. When it comes to veggies, about 11 percent of Arizonans get what they need each day. Nationwide, men, younger adults and lower-income people eat the least amounts.
“This report highlights that very few Americans eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables every day, putting them at risk for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease,” said Dr. Seung Hee Lee Kwan, lead author of the study. “As a result, we’re missing out on the essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that fruits and vegetables provide.”
The recommended amounts vary based on age and gender and range from 1½ to 2 cups per day of fruit and 2 to 3 cups per day of vegetables.
To increase consumption, the agency 10, including:
• expanding farmers markets.
• improving access to retail stores that sell high quality produce.
• ensuring access to fruits and vegetables at cafeterias and events at schools, workplaces, hospitals and universities.
