CT residents need to eat more fruits and veggies, but we are doing better than most states

The good news is that CT residents eat more fruits and vegetables than most Americans, according to today’s MMWR. The bad news is that our consumption of fruits dropped each year from 2000 to 2009; vegetable consumption was somewhat steady. Last year, 37.6% of us ate fruit two or more times a day and 28.5% ate three or more vegetables each day. We all should be, but the US averages were 32.5% and 26.3%, respectively. Compared to other states, we do better in fruit consumption (5th) than veggies (11th). Eating fruits and vegetables is important for maintaining healthy weight and reducing the risk of many illnesses.


Between 1987 and 2007, the percentage of obese adult Americans more than doubled. A new analysis by CBO estimates that we could reduce health spending increases 3% by 2020 if we could level off rising obesity rates; we would save 4% if we could return to 1987 levels.
Ellen Andrews