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Nov. 17, 2010 -- Five years after the launch of a national initiative aimed at getting us to eat more fruits and vegetables, Americans are barely getting a passing grade.
There has been some progress in improving access to fruits and vegetables, but it's not translating into Americans eating more of them -- the ultimate goal of the 2005 National Action Plan to Promote Health Through Increased Fruit and Vegetable Consumption. The plan was developed by the National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance, which is co-chaired by the CDC and the Produce for Better Health Foundation.
Only 6% of us eat enough vegetables and just 8% of us eat enough fruit every day, according to information cited in the new report card, which was released today.
"We have seen some improvement over the past five years and are moving in the right direction, but in terms of a macro grade for our country in increasing fruits and vegetable consumption, I would give us a D or a D minus," says Elizabeth Pivonka, PhD, RD, president of the Produce for Better Health Foundation, a nonprofit foundation in Hockessin, Del., that encourages Americans to eat more fruits and vegetable."We need to do far more to stop the negative trend."
The group calls for changes at the federal, state, school, and family level to boost access to fruits and vegetables including adding more salad bars in schools and adding more fruits and vegetables to menus in restaurants and workplace cafeterias, she says.
Parents can also do their part at home to encourage eating of fruits and vegetables. Pivonka says. "Have them readily available on the table or in the refrigerator, and involve kids in growing, selecting, or preparing fruits and vegetables and by setting a good example."
Childhood obesity is at an all-time high level and obesity-related diseases normally only seen in adults are now being diagnosed in children. There is momentum in getting kids to eat more fruit and vegetables, but 88% don't eat their daily recommended amount of fruit and 92% don't eat their daily recommended amount of vegetables, the new report card shows.?
"Ultimately what we are looking to do is increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, and we are making progress, but are we making a difference in what people are eating? I'd give us a D to an F, depending on the subgroup," says Laurence Grummer-Strawn, PhD, the chief of the nutrition branch at the CDC in Atlanta.
All the grades weren't bad. There were a few A’s doled out in the new report card, including A’s for efforts to expand the program that provides free fresh fruit and vegetable snacks in schools, and introducing vouchers for fruits and vegetables as part of the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children, as well as the launch of "Fruits & Veggies: More Matters" education campaign.