Stacker Studio

Louisiana is the #3 state where people consume the least fruits and vegetables

Written by:
February 15, 2022
Dr. Victor Wong // Shutterstock

This story originally appeared on Thistle and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

Louisiana is the #3 state where people consume the least fruits and vegetables

Many of us have heard of the importance of eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which is vital to support a healthy immune system and prevent chronic conditions. Most American adults however aren’t getting enough fruits and vegetables despite the recent popularity of a more plant-based diet and lifestyle. Only 12.3% of Americans are eating fruit and 10% are eating a daily serving of veggies. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults eat 1.5-2 cups of fruits and 2-3 cups of vegetables daily.

Citing data collected through the 2019 Risk Behavior Surveillance System by the CDC, Thistle compiled state-level data on fruit and vegetable consumption. States and Washington D.C. are ranked by the percent of the adult population consuming less than one serving of fruit per day, from the highest rate to the lowest. Data was not available for New Jersey.

Check out the data below to see how your state stacks up, or look at the national fruit and vegetable consumption ranking here.

Louisiana by the numbers

- Adults eating less than one serving of fruit per day: 47.2%
- Adults eating less than one serving of vegetables per day: 25.6%
- High school students eating less than one serving of fruit per day: 53.1%
- High school students eating less than one serving of vegetables per day: 55.1%

Food deserts, regions where residents have limited to no access to affordable and nutritious foods, are often found in low-income areas and places with smaller populations. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its most recent report published in 2017, revealed that 39.5 million people in the U.S. were living in low-income areas. This also included neighborhoods with limited access to healthy food. In order to be identified as a food desert, areas have to meet certain requirements which include a local poverty rate of at least 20% or the median family earnings being 80% or less of the neighborhood’s average family salary. Areas where the closest, largest grocery store is 10 miles away or more are also considered a food desert.

Keep reading to see which states consume the most and least fruits and vegetables.

States that consume the most fruits and vegetables

#1. Vermont
- Adults eating less than one serving of fruit per day: 32%
- Adults eating less than one serving of vegetables per day: 32.7%
#2. Massachusetts
- Adults eating less than one serving of fruit per day: 32.7%
- Adults eating less than one serving of vegetables per day: 15.5%
#3. Connecticut
- Adults eating less than one serving of fruit per day: 34.1%
- Adults eating less than one serving of vegetables per day: 19.9%

States that consume the least fruits and vegetables

#1. Oklahoma
- Adults eating less than one serving of fruit per day: 48.4%
- Adults eating less than one serving of vegetables per day: 21.5%
#2. Mississippi
- Adults eating less than one serving of fruit per day: 47.5%
- Adults eating less than one serving of vegetables per day: 22.9%
#3. Louisiana
- Adults eating less than one serving of fruit per day: 47.5%
- Adults eating less than one serving of vegetables per day: 22.9%

Explore by Metro

Acadia Parish

Explore

Alexandria

Explore

Allen Parish

Explore

Ascension Parish

Explore

Assumption Parish

Explore

Avoyelles Parish

Explore

Baton Rouge

Explore

Beauregard Parish

Explore

Bienville Parish

Explore

Bossier Parish

Explore

Caddo Parish

Explore

Calcasieu Parish

Explore

Caldwell Parish

Explore

Cameron Parish

Explore

Catahoula Parish

Explore

Claiborne Parish

Explore

Concordia Parish

Explore

De Soto Parish

Explore

East Baton Rouge Parish

Explore

East Carroll Parish

Explore

East Feliciana Parish

Explore

Evangeline Parish

Explore

Franklin Parish

Explore

Grant Parish

Explore

Hammond

Explore

Houma

Explore

Iberia Parish

Explore

Iberville Parish

Explore

Jackson Parish

Explore

Jefferson Davis Parish

Explore

Jefferson Parish

Explore

LaSalle Parish

Explore

Lafayette

Explore

Lafayette Parish

Explore

Lafourche Parish

Explore

Lake Charles

Explore

Lincoln Parish

Explore

Livingston Parish

Explore

Madison Parish

Explore

Monroe

Explore

Morehouse Parish

Explore

Natchitoches Parish

Explore

New Orleans

Explore

Ouachita Parish

Explore

Plaquemines Parish

Explore

Pointe Coupee Parish

Explore

Rapides Parish

Explore

Red River Parish

Explore

Richland Parish

Explore

Sabine Parish

Explore

Shreveport

Explore

St. Bernard Parish

Explore

St. Charles Parish

Explore

St. Helena Parish

Explore

St. James Parish

Explore

St. John the Baptist Parish

Explore

St. Landry Parish

Explore

St. Martin Parish

Explore

St. Mary Parish

Explore

St. Tammany Parish

Explore

Tangipahoa Parish

Explore

Tensas Parish

Explore

Terrebonne Parish

Explore

Union Parish

Explore

Vermilion Parish

Explore

Vernon Parish

Explore

Washington Parish

Explore

Webster Parish

Explore

West Baton Rouge Parish

Explore

West Carroll Parish

Explore

West Feliciana Parish

Explore

Winn Parish

Explore

Trending Now