The eating habits of America’s youngsters have been improving, but a recent study by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the nation has more work to do. The study found that children aged 1 to 5 eat far fewer fruits and vegetables than they should, and consume more sugar-sweetened beverages. (These are 25 foods that are wrecking your teeth and gums.)
To compile a list of just how much fruits, vegetables, and sugar-sweetened beverages children in that age group consume in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a report published this month by the CDC, based on data for 2021 from the National Survey of Children’s Health. Percentages are weighted to account for complex survey design and adjusted for the probability of selection, nonresponse, and demographic factors to represent children in each state between the age of 1 and 5.
The National Survey of Children’s Health that examined the frequency intake of 18,386 children in that age range for fruits, vegetables, and sugar-sweetened beverages, nationally and by state. On a national level, during the week preceding the survey, 32.1% of America’s children didn’t eat a daily fruit, 49.1% did not consume a daily vegetable, and 57.1% drank a sugar-sweetened beverage at least once. (Here are some easy ways to be a healthier person.)
Click here to see data on the healthy and unhealthy food habits of America’s youngest children
Percentages vary dramatically from state to state. In Vermont, 30.4% of children ate no daily vegetable and 16.3% ate no daily fruit. In Louisiana, those numbers were 64.3% and 49.(%, respectively. The percentage of children who imbibed a sugar-sweetened drink at least once during the preceding week ranged from 38.8% in Maine to 79.3% in Mississippi.
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Alabama
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 39.3% — 7th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 57.3% — 3rd highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 66.5% — 9th highest
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Alaska
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 21.6% — 5th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 50.0% — 21st highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 54.9% — 22nd lowest
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Arizona
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 30.0% — 20th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 50.6% — 18th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 59.6% — 18th highest
Arkansas
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 36.3% — 15th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 51.5% — 17th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 66.1% — 11th highest
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California
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 32.3% — 25th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 50.5% — 19th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 53.9% — 17th lowest
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Colorado
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 25.6% — 9th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 47.2% — 20th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 56.1% — 24th lowest
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Connecticut
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 33.5% — 21st highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 48.5% — 25th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 42.5% — 4th lowest
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Delaware
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 28.7% — 17th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 53.6% — 10th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 54.2% — 19th lowest
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Florida
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 34.4% — 18th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 52.0% — 15th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 57.5% — 24th highest
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Georgia
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 37.6% — 11th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 47.9% — 24th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 62.5% — 15th highest
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Hawaii
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 38.6% — 8th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 55.5% — 8th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 54.3% — 20th lowest
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Idaho
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 38.3% — 9th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 50.4% — 20th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 68.6% — 6th highest
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Illinois
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 31.0% — 23rd lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 49.8% — 23rd highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 52.3% — 13th lowest
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Indiana
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 43.1% — 3rd highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 53.2% — 11th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 66.7% — 7th highest
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Iowa
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 32.3% — 25th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 49.9% — 22nd highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 54.7% — 21st lowest
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Kansas
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 34.8% — 17th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 43.4% — 9th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 56.2% — 25th lowest
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Kentucky
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 42.7% — 4th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 54.4% — 9th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 59.0% — 20th highest
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Louisiana
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 49.9% — the highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 64.3% — the highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 70.2% — 4th highest
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Maine
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 20.0% — 3rd lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 33.9% — 2nd lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 38.6% — the lowest
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Maryland
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 26.3% — 12th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 46.4% — 18th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 57.6% — 23rd highest
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Massachusetts
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 20.1% — 4th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 46.7% — 19th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 46.7% — 8th lowest
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Michigan
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 31.0% — 23rd lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 44.3% — 13th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 53.2% — 16th lowest
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Minnesota
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 22.1% — 6th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 41.2% — 5th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 55.5% — 23rd lowest
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Mississippi
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 47.3% — 2nd highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 55.8% — 6th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 79.3% — the highest
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Missouri
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 37.0% — 13th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 44.3% — 13th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 60.1% — 17th highest
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Montana
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 29.2% — 18th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 42.8% — 7th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 59.0% — 20th highest
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Nebraska
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 33.5% — 21st highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 52.2% — 14th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 59.5% — 19th highest
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Nevada
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 33.4% — 23rd highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 44.2% — 10th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 57.0% — 25th highest
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New Hampshire
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 22.2% — 7th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 38.5% — 4th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 41.7% — 3rd lowest
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New Jersey
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 32.6% — 25th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 57.1% — 4th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 53.2% — 16th lowest
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New Mexico
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 41.1% — 5th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 47.7% — 23rd lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 66.2% — 10th highest
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New York
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 37.8% — 10th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 55.6% — 7th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 49.3% — 10th lowest
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North Carolina
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 26.4% — 13th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 49.1% — 25th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 54.0% — 18th lowest
North Dakota
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 32.7% — 24th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 44.3% — 13th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 63.6% — 14th highest
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Ohio
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 27.1% — 14th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 45.8% — 17th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 51.1% — 12th lowest
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Oklahoma
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 37.5% — 12th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 57.5% — 2nd highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 72.6% — 2nd highest
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Oregon
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 26.1% — 10th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 43.2% — 8th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 48.6% — 9th lowest
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Pennsylvania
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 27.4% — 15th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 44.5% — 14th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 44.9% — 5th lowest
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Rhode Island
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 34.1% — 20th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 56.2% — 5th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 52.6% — 14th lowest
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South Carolina
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 34.3% — 19th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 47.5% — 22nd lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 61.5% — 16th highest
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South Dakota
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 36.7% — 14th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 52.7% — 12th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 58.1% — 22nd highest
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Tennessee
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 36.2% — 16th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 42.5% — 6th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 72.1% — 3rd highest
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Texas
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 29.9% — 19th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 47.3% — 21st lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 68.8% — 5th highest
Source: RichVintage / E+ via Getty Images
Utah
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 28.4% — 16th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 52.5% — 13th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 66.6% — 8th highest
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Vermont
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 16.3% — the lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 30.4% — the lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 41.3% — 2nd lowest
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Virginia
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 30.8% — 21st lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 51.8% — 16th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 45.7% — 6th lowest
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Washington
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 19.4% — 2nd lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 35.5% — 3rd lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 46.3% — 7th lowest
Source: Imgorthand / E+ via Getty Images
West Virginia
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 40.0% — 6th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 49.6% — 24th highest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 64.9% — 12th highest
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Wisconsin
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 26.3% — 12th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 44.9% — 15th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 50.9% — 11th lowest
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Wyoming
> Children aged 1-5 who eat fruit less than once a day: 25.5% — 8th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who eat vegetables less than once a day: 45.4% — 16th lowest
> Children aged 1-5 who consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week: 64.3% — 13th highest
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