Data Up to Date as of:
On This Page:
Background
People whose diets are rich in plant foods such as fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of getting cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, and lung, and some evidence suggests that maintaining a diet rich in plant foods also lowers the risk of cancers of the colon, pancreas, and prostate. This diet also reduces the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, helps to reduce calorie intake, and may help to control weight.
To help prevent the aforementioned cancers and other chronic diseases, experts recommend the daily consumption of 2 to 6.5 cups of fruits and vegetables, depending on one’s energy needs. This includes 1 to 2.5 cups of fruits and 1 to 4 cups of vegetables, with special emphasis on dark green and orange vegetables and legumes. There is no evidence that the popular white potato protects against cancer.
Measure
Average daily cup equivalents per 1,000 calories of fruits and vegetables for people aged 2 years and older. This measure includes fruits and vegetables from all sources.
Healthy People 2030 Target
- Increase the consumption of fruits by persons aged 2 years and over to 0.56 cup equivalents of fruit per 1,000 calories.
- Increase the consumption of total vegetables by persons aged 2 years and over to 0.84 cup equivalents of total vegetables per 1,000 calories.
Healthy People 2030 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Note: Goals are indicated as blue line on Detailed Trend Graphs.
Data Source
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Food Surveys Research Group (Beltsville, MD). Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals 1994-96, 1998.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1994–2018.
Trends and Most Recent Estimates
Overall Comparison
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Average cups per 1,000 calories | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Fruit and Vegetables Combined![]() |
1.2 | 1.2 - 1.3 |
Fruit![]() |
0.5 | 0.5 - 0.5 | |
Vegetables![]() |
0.7 | 0.7 - 0.8 |
Fruit and Vegetables Combined
By Sex
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Average cups per 1,000 calories | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Both Sexes![]() |
1.2 | 1.2 - 1.3 |
Male![]() |
1.1 | 1.0 - 1.2 | |
Female![]() |
1.4 | 1.3 - 1.4 |
By Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Average cups per 1,000 calories | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
1.2 | 1.2 - 1.3 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
1.2 | 1.1 - 1.2 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
1.2 | 1.1 - 1.3 | |
Hispanic![]() |
1.5 | 1.3 - 1.6 |
By Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Average cups per 1,000 calories | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of Federal Poverty Level![]() |
1.2 | 1.1 - 1.3 |
>=200% of Federal Poverty Level![]() |
1.3 | 1.2 - 1.3 |
Fruit
By Sex
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Average cups per 1,000 calories | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Both Sexes![]() |
0.5 | 0.5 - 0.5 |
Male![]() |
0.4 | 0.4 - 0.5 | |
Female![]() |
0.5 | 0.5 - 0.6 |
By Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Average cups per 1,000 calories | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
0.5 | 0.5 - 0.5 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
0.4 | 0.4 - 0.5 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
0.5 | 0.4 - 0.6 | |
Hispanic![]() |
0.6 | 0.6 - 0.7 |
By Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Average cups per 1,000 calories | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of Federal Poverty Level![]() |
0.5 | 0.4 - 0.5 |
>=200% of Federal Poverty Level![]() |
0.5 | 0.5 - 0.5 |
Vegetables
By Sex
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Average cups per 1,000 calories | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
Both Sexes![]() |
0.7 | 0.7 - 0.8 |
Male![]() |
0.7 | 0.6 - 0.7 | |
Female![]() |
0.8 | 0.8 - 0.9 |
By Race/Ethnicity
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Average cups per 1,000 calories | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
All Races![]() |
0.7 | 0.7 - 0.8 |
Non-Hispanic White![]() |
0.7 | 0.7 - 0.8 | |
Non-Hispanic Black![]() |
0.7 | 0.6 - 0.8 | |
Hispanic![]() |
0.8 | 0.8 - 0.9 |
By Poverty Income Level
Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
---|---|---|---|
Average cups per 1,000 calories | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
![]() ![]() |
<200% of Federal Poverty Level![]() |
0.7 | 0.7 - 0.8 |
>=200% of Federal Poverty Level![]() |
0.8 | 0.7 - 0.8 |
Additional Information on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
- ACS Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention. American Cancer Society.
- Diet and Physical Activity: What’s the Cancer Connection? American Cancer Society.
- Cancer Prevention and Control: Healthy Choices. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Diet/Nutrition Evidence-Based Programs Listing. National Cancer Institute.
- Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Professionals Gateway.
- American Cancer Society guideline for diet and physical activity for cancer prevention. Rock CL, Thomson C, Gansler T, et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 2020; 70(4): 245-271.
- 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Continuous Update Project. World Cancer Research Fund International.
- Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Cancer: a Global Perspective. World Cancer Research Fund, and the American Institute for Cancer Research.
- Usual Dietary Intakes: Food Intakes, U.S. Population, 2007–10. National Cancer Institute.
- What We Eat in America. U.S. Department of Agriculture.