Per Capita Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables: 1980 and 2006 (In pounds).
Fruits and vegetables are key part of a healthy diet. Do Americans eat more fruit than they used to? Do Americans eat more vegetables than they used to? According to the census bureau, yes, American’s are eating more vegetables and more fruit today than they did in 1980.
- Fresh vegetable consumption per person has increased 29% in the last 25 years.
- Fresh fruit consumption per person has increased 22% in the last 25 years.
- Americans eat 4.3 times as much broccoli per year as they did in 1980.
- Bell pepper consumption is up 143% in the same time frame.
I can’t say whether or not Americans are eating enough vegetables. They are at least eating more vegetables.
| Food Type | 1980 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|
| Fruits and vegetables, total | 603.6 | 675.3 |
| Fruits, total | 265.0 | 269.5 |
| Fresh fruits | 106.2 | 129.1 |
| Noncitrus | 80.5 | 107.5 |
| Apples | 19.4 | 17.8 |
| Bananas | 20.8 | 25.1 |
| Cantaloupes | 5.8 | 9.6 |
| Processed fruits | 158.8 | 140.4 |
| Canned fruits | 24.5 | 15.3 |
| Fruit juices | 119.0 | 109.4 |
| Vegetables, total | 338.6 | 405.8 |
| Fresh vegetables | 151.6 | 195.5 |
| Broccoli | 1.4 | 6.1 |
| Carrots | 6.2 | 8.7 |
| Cauliflower | 1.1 | 1.7 |
| Head lettuce | 25.6 | 20.2 |
| Mushrooms | 1.2 | 2.6 |
| Onions | 11.4 | 19.8 |
| Bell peppers (all uses) | 2.9 | 7.0 |
| Potatoes | 51.1 | 37.3 |
| Tomatoes | 12.8 | 19.9 |
| Other fresh vegetables | 6.0 | 35.0 |
| Processed vegetables | 187.0 | 210.2 |
| Selected vegetables for freezing | 51.5 | 74.5 |
| Selected vegetables for canning | 102.5 | 94.8 |
| Potatoes for chips | 16.5 | 18.9 |