Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption - Let's Get Healthy California

Fruits and vegetables protect health.¹

Nutrition is one of the most powerful protective factors for disease prevention and long-term health.² A healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables during childhood supports healthy growth, brain development, and immune function, and early exposure to these foods help build taste preferences and eating habits that often last into adolescence and adulthood.^3,4,5 Regular and adequate consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with lower risk of obesity and chronic conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. ⁶

The indicator to track fruit and vegetable consumption is under development.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption – Adolescent

This indicator is under development and the baseline, current rate, and target are to be determined (TBD).

More Data about Fruit and Vegetable Consumption – Adolescent

Baseline

TBD

Current Rate

TBD

Target

TBD

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption – Adult

This indicator is under development and the baseline, current rate, and target are to be determined (TBD).

More Data about Fruit and Vegetable Consumption – Adult

Baseline

TBD

Current Rate

TBD

Target

TBD

Fast Facts

Consuming 2 servings of fruits and 3 servings of vegetables daily (5 servings total) is the optimal target for overall health and longevity.^7,8,9,10

Fruits and vegetables are nutrient-dense and relatively low in calories, making them a good source of essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and other plant derived nutrients.^7,8,9,10

Different fruits and vegetables contain different combinations of nutrients, aim for a colorful and diverse selection in your daily servings.^7,8,9,10

Focus on Prevention

Nutrition Education and Community Support

Implement culturally and linguistically appropriate awareness and education campaigns – such as CalFresh Healthy Living – that increase knowledge and confidence for selecting, preparing, and consuming fruits and vegetables.¹¹

Increase Access and Affordability

Expand policies and programs that make fruits and vegetables more affordable and available in communities – such as supplemental food assistance, voucher incentive and produce prescription programs, farmers markets and community gardens, and retail strategies that improve healthy food access.^12,13,14

Strengthen Healthy Food Environments

Promote nutrition standards and environmental approaches in schools, workplaces, healthcare settings, and other community settings that make fruits and vegetables the easy, visible, and default choice.^12,13,14

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1. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, June 3). Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Weight Status . Chronic Disease Indicators. https://www.cdc.gov/cdi/indicator-definitions/npao.html#:~:text=Poor%20nutrition%20and%20physical%20inactivity,adults%20eat%20their%20recommended%20vegetables

2. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, June 3). Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Weight Status. Chronic Disease Indicators. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/features/index.html

3. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, February 16). Good Nutrition Starts Early. Nutrition. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/features/good-nutrition-starts-early.html

4. Parajuli, J., & Prangthip, P. (2025). Adolescent Nutrition and Health: a Critical Period for Nutritional Intervention to Prevent Long Term Health Consequences. Current nutrition reports, 14(1), 116. Accessed March 10, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-025-00706-4

5. Puri, S., Shaheen, M., & Grover, B. (2023). Nutrition and cognitive health: A life course approach. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1023907. Accessed March 10, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-025-00706-4

6. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, February 14). Benefits of Healthy Eating for Adults. Nutrition. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/php/resources/healthy-eating-benefits-for-adults.html

7. World Health Organization. (2026, January 26). Healthy Diet. World Health Organization: Newsroom Fact Sheets. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet#:~:text=Carbohydrates%20in%20the%20diet%20should,9%20years%20of%20age,%20respectively.

8. American Heart Association. (2021, March 1). The right “5-a-day” mix is 2 fruit and 3 vegetable servings for longer life. American Heart Association Scientific Statement Newsroom. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/the-right-5-a-day-mix-is-2-fruit-and-3-vegetable-servings-for-longer-life

9. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2026, January 7). Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030. Eat Real Food. https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf

10. California Department of Public Health. MyPlate, MyWins. CalFresh Healthy Living. https://calfreshhealthyliving.cdph.ca.gov/en/tips/Pages/MyPlate-MyWins.aspx

11. California Department of Public Health. What Healthy Living Looks Like. CalFresh Healthy Living. https://calfreshhealthyliving.cdph.ca.gov/en/Pages/default.aspx

12. California Department of Public Health. (2023, July 31). Hunger, Nutrition, and Health: CDPH Promotes Healthy Eating and Active Living. Center for Family Health. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CFH/Pages/Hunger,-Nutrition,-and-Health.aspx

13. California Department of Public Health. (2025, May 27). Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative: Systems and Environmental Change. Center for Family Health: Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Division Nutrition and Physical Activity. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CFH/DMCAH/NUPA/Pages/Systems-and-Environmental-Change.aspx

14. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Strategies to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases: The CDC Guide to Strategies to Increase the Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables. Nutrition. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/features/good-nutrition-starts-early.html

Stories & Solutions

Skid Row Healthy Food Micro-Enterprise Project

Skid Row Healthy Food Micro-Enterprise Project by the Los Angeles Community Action Network is a pilot project in the early stages of development that seeks to serve the Skid Row community of Downtown Los Angeles.

Ending Hunger in Orange County (OC)

Orange County experiences a unique disparity in which it ranks sixth in highest median income statewide, while also ranking ninth nationwide in counties with the highest number of people facing food insecurity.

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Fruits and vegetables protect health.¹

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption – Adolescent

Baseline

Current Rate