Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Adults --- United States, 2005

A diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with decreased risk for chronic diseases (1). In addition, because fruits and vegetables have low energy density (i.e., few calories relative to volume), eating them as part of a reduced-calorie diet can be beneficial for weight management (2). Healthy People 2010 health objectives include increasing to 75% the percentage of persons aged >2 years who eat at least two daily servings* of fruit (objective 19-5) and increasing to 50% the proportion of persons aged >2 years who eat at least three daily servings of vegetables, with at least one third being dark green or orange vegetables (objective 19-6) (3).