HHS HealthBeat (March 01, 2007)

Teens, fruits and vegetables

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Eat your fruits and vegetables, teens? A look at survey data in Minnesota indicates teens have been going from bad to worse.

Nicole Larson of the University of Minnesota says teens in 1999 averaged about two cups of fruits and vegetables, when they should have three and a half to six and a half cups. And they were eating less healthy by 2004.

"During the transition from middle or junior high school to senior high school, students decreased their daily consumption of fruits and vegetables by almost one serving, or approximately one-half cup." (10 seconds)

Her study, which was supported by HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration, was in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Larson says just nagging the teens won't help – but making fruit and vegetable dishes cheaper, easier to get, and more tasty might.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: March, 07 2007