Diet - Prevention Summary Table

Only one measure per topic is displayed in the summary table. A complete set of measures, where they exist, can be found by following the More Information link in the table below.

Legend:
green line green - headed in the right direction
red line red - headed in the wrong direction
black line black - stable or non-significant change (NSC)
purple purple - indeterminate
blue blue - Healthy People 2030 target
Measure Name Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Red Meat and Processed Meat Consumption Fat Consumption Alcohol Consumption
Year Range 1994-2018 1994-2018 1989-2018 1990-2018
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.

Average daily ounce equivalents of red meat and processed meat per 1000 calories for people aged 2 years and older.

The method used to estimate total red meat intake in the U.S. population was automated beginning with NHANES 2007-2008. Organ meats were excluded when the method was automated, based on the definition of red meat in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Organ meat intake in the U.S. population is low and therefore did not meaningfully influence total red meat intake estimates when excluded.

Intakes of total fat, and of the major fatty acids - saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated - as a percentage of total calories.

Per capita alcohol consumption: The estimated number of gallons of pure alcohol consumed per person (aged 14 years and older), per year. This measure accounts for the varying alcohol content of wine, beer, and liquor. People as young as 14 are included because a large number of adolescents begin drinking at an early age.
Recent Summary Trend Non-Significant Change Rising Non-Significant Change Rising
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2013-2018 2013-2018 2013-2018 2014-2018
Desired Direction Rising Falling Falling Falling
Summary Graph Summary graph for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, Click to see detailed view of graph Summary graph for Red Meat and Processed Meat Consumption, Click to see detailed view of graph Summary graph for Fat Consumption, Click to see detailed view of graph Summary graph for Alcohol Consumption, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates From 2017 to 2018, people aged 2 years and olderconsumed, on average, 0.5 cup equivalents of fruits per 1,000 calories and 0.7 cup equivalents of vegetables per 1,000 calories (including 0.1 cup equivalents of dark green and orange vegetables and legumes per 1,000 calories). From 2017 to 2018, people aged 2 years and older consumed, on average, 1.4 ounces of red meat per 1,000 calories. From 2017 to 2018, total fat made up 35.8% of the calories people consumed, saturated fatty acids accounted for 11.8% of calories, monounsaturated, 12.1%, and polyunsaturated, 8.4%. In 2018, per capita alcohol consumption was 2.4 gallons for all beverages, including beer, wine, and liquor.
Healthy People 2030 Target 0.6 cup equivalents of fruits per 1,000 calories. 0.8 cup equivalents of vegetables per 1,000 calories, with at least 0.55 cup equivalents of dark green or orange vegetables or legumes per 1,000 calories. No Healthy People Target for this measure. 8.4% percent saturated fatty acids. No Healthy People Target for this measure.
More Information Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Red Meat and Processed Meat Consumption Fat Consumption Alcohol Consumption
Last Updated July 2021 July 2021 July 2021 July 2021
Measure Name: Fat Consumption
Measure Name Fat Consumption
Year Range 1989-2018
Measure

Intakes of total fat, and of the major fatty acids - saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated - as a percentage of total calories.
Recent Summary Trend Non-Significant Change
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2013-2018
Desired Direction Falling
Summary Graph Summary graph for Fat Consumption, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates From 2017 to 2018, total fat made up 35.8% of the calories people consumed, saturated fatty acids accounted for 11.8% of calories, monounsaturated, 12.1%, and polyunsaturated, 8.4%.
Healthy People 2020 Target 8.4% percent saturated fatty acids.
More Information Fat Consumption
Measure Name: Alcohol Consumption
Measure Name Alcohol Consumption
Year Range 1990-2018
Measure

Per capita alcohol consumption: The estimated number of gallons of pure alcohol consumed per person (aged 14 years and older), per year. This measure accounts for the varying alcohol content of wine, beer, and liquor. People as young as 14 are included because a large number of adolescents begin drinking at an early age.
Recent Summary Trend Rising
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2014-2018
Desired Direction Falling
Summary Graph Summary graph for Alcohol Consumption, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates In 2018, per capita alcohol consumption was 2.4 gallons for all beverages, including beer, wine, and liquor.
Healthy People 2020 Target No Healthy People Target for this measure.
More Information Alcohol Consumption
Measure Name: Red Meat and Processed Meat Consumption
Measure Name Red Meat and Processed Meat Consumption
Year Range 1994-2018
Measure

Average daily ounce equivalents of red meat and processed meat per 1000 calories for people aged 2 years and older.

The method used to estimate total red meat intake in the U.S. population was automated beginning with NHANES 2007-2008. Organ meats were excluded when the method was automated, based on the definition of red meat in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Organ meat intake in the U.S. population is low and therefore did not meaningfully influence total red meat intake estimates when excluded.
Recent Summary Trend Rising
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2013-2018
Desired Direction Falling
Summary Graph Summary graph for Red Meat and Processed Meat Consumption, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates From 2017 to 2018, people aged 2 years and older consumed, on average, 1.4 ounces of red meat per 1,000 calories.
Healthy People 2020 Target No Healthy People Target for this measure.
More Information Red Meat and Processed Meat Consumption
Measure Name: Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
Measure Name Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
Year Range 1994-2018
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.
Recent Summary Trend Non-Significant Change
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2013-2018
Desired Direction Rising
Summary Graph Summary graph for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates From 2017 to 2018, people aged 2 years and olderconsumed, on average, 0.5 cup equivalents of fruits per 1,000 calories and 0.7 cup equivalents of vegetables per 1,000 calories (including 0.1 cup equivalents of dark green and orange vegetables and legumes per 1,000 calories).
Healthy People 2020 Target 0.6 cup equivalents of fruits per 1,000 calories. 0.8 cup equivalents of vegetables per 1,000 calories, with at least 0.55 cup equivalents of dark green or orange vegetables or legumes per 1,000 calories.
More Information Fruit and Vegetable Consumption