Abstract
Objective
To estimate the proportions of the population meeting recommendations for fruit and
vegetable intake, we first estimated the usual intake distributions of total fruits
and vegetables and then compared the results to the 5 A Day recommendation and to
the recommendations for fruits and vegetables combined, found in the new US Department
of Agriculture food guide, MyPyramid.
Design/subjects
The primary dataset was created from one 24-hour recall from each of 8,070 respondents
in the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Variances were
estimated using one or two 24-hour recalls from 14,963 respondents in the 1994-1996
Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals.
Statistical Analysis
The statistical method developed at Iowa State University was used for estimating
distributions of usual intake of dietary components that are consumed daily. It was
modified to allow the adjustment of heterogeneous within-person variances using an
external estimate of heterogeneity.
Results
In 1999-2000, only 40% of Americans ate an average of five or more ½-cup servings
of fruits and vegetables per day. The proportions of sex–age groups meeting the new
US Department of Agriculture recommendations ranged from 0.7% of boys aged 14 to 18
years, whose combined recommendation is 5 cups, to 48% of children aged 2 to 3 years,
whose combined recommendation is 2 cups.
Conclusions
Americans need to consume more fruits and vegetables, especially dark green and orange
vegetables and legumes. Nutritionists must help consumers realize that, for everyone
older than age 3 years, the new recommendations for fruit and vegetable intakes are
greater than the familiar five servings a day.
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Biography
P. M. Guenther is a nutritionist, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, US Department of Agriculture, Alexandria, VA.
Biography
K. W. Dodd is a mathematical statistician, Statistical Research and Applications Branch, Surveillance Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences.
Biography
J. Reedy is a cancer prevention fellow and S. M. Krebs-Smith is chief, Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Branch, Applied Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
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© 2006 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
