Younger Children Are Eating More Fruits And Vegetables Than In 2004, But Not Teens

Preteen children are eating more fruits and vegetables now than they were in 2004, according to a new study, though teenagers are eating less. Children five and under ate 11 percent more fruit in 2009 than in 2004, while children 6-12 ate seven percent more. Consumption of vegetables also increased, though at a lesser rate. Kids under six ate three percent more vegetables and kids 6-12 ate two percent more. Teens, however, ate six percent less vegetables and two percent less fruit. Consumption of vegetables among adults was steady, while consumption of fruits declined slightly. The CEO of the foundation that commissioned the study applauded the preteen trend, but nevertheless said that “we still have a long way to go to get consumption up to recommended levels.”