The Anti-Vegetables Generation: What It Reveals About Their Health Habits

Only 1 in 10 adults are eating enough fruits and vegetables, according to the CDC. The data suggest that approximately 90% of Americans do not eat enough vegetables, and about 80% do not eat enough fruit. In 2019, only 12.3% of adults met the daily fruit recommendations, and 10% met the vegetable recommendations, meaning most of the population is not consuming enough produce. 

• Vegetable intake: About 90% of American adults are not eating enough vegetables. 
• Fruit intake: About 80% of American adults are not eating enough fruit. 
• Combined intake: In 2019, only about 1 in 10 adults met the recommendations for both fruit and vegetable intake. 

Who is Most Affected by the Gap in Consumption?

The CDC data also highlighted significant disparities in consumption across different demographic groups: 

• Income: People with the lowest household incomes were the least likely to meet vegetable recommendations.
• Age: Adults aged 51 and older were more likely to meet vegetable recommendations than younger adults aged 18–30 or 31–50.
• Gender: Women were more likely to meet both fruit and vegetable recommendations than men. Women are also more likely to “eat the rainbow” to help them remember to eat different colors of fruits and vegetables to increase intake of different nutrients to benefit different areas of health. 
• Race/Ethnicity: Hispanic adults were more likely to meet fruit intake recommendations than non-Hispanic white adults. Non-Hispanic Black adults were less likely to meet vegetable recommendations than non-Hispanic white adults.

Gen Z’s Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Studies show that Gen Z Studies show that Gen Z consumes fewer fruits and vegetables than older generations, but their health is also impacted by significant issues such as mental health struggles, high stress, and economic insecurity. 

• A cross-sectional study of American generations found that Gen Z had the lowest intake of fruits and vegetables compared to Gen X and Millennials, with only 4.8% and 8.4%, respectively, reporting at least three servings per day.
• Data from Produce for Better Health indicates that consumption of fruits and vegetables has decreased by about 10% since 2004, with the decline among Millennials and Gen Z not being offset by the increased consumption among those over 50.
• Reasons for this low intake include preference for taste and convenience over nutrition, as well as the perception that eating vegetables is a “chore”.
• Despite lower consumption, Gen Z is highly interested in healthy eating and plant-based diets, often influenced by sustainability and ethical concerns in addition to health. This suggests a gap between their intentions and actual dietary habits. 

Fresh Market Research recently revealed that millions from Generation Z are not eating fruits or vegetables. Their findings suggest that 1 in 4 Gen Zers between the ages of 14 and 26 either don’t eat fruits and veggies at all, or only produce occasionally, revealing a growing dietary void in basic nutritional needs.

Reddit forum threads also reflect this trend. Popular topics include: “Aversion to Vegetables”, “Veganism for a Vegetable Hater“, and “Vegetables Are Absolutely Disgusting”, as well as one of the more popular threads, “Does Anyone Else Know People Who Don’t Eat Vegetables at All?“

Broader Health Challenges for Gen Z

Experts point to a combination of factors that influence Gen Z’s overall health:

• Mental health: Gen Z reports significantly higher rates of anxiety, depression, and stress compared to older generations. Studies link this to social media pressure, economic worries, academic stress, and an overall feeling that “things are falling apart”.
• Physical health: While not solely attributable to diet, poor lifestyle choices can lead to malnutrition and contribute to chronic conditions like obesity and heart disease. Many Gen Z adults are classified as overweight or obese.
• Lifestyle choices: A heavy reliance on convenience foods, high intake of soft drinks and snacks, and lower rates of regular exercise are contributing factors to poorer physical health. The COVID-19 pandemic also exacerbated sedentary behavior and disrupted healthy routines.
• Digital connection: Technology has both positive and negative impacts. While Gen Z uses digital tools to monitor their health, the constant connectivity and use of social media are also linked to higher stress, social comparison, and inadequate sleep.
• Barriers to care: Significant barriers to accessing mental and physical healthcare include cost, difficulty scheduling appointments, and perceived stigma. 

The Link Between Diet and Health

A low intake of fruits and vegetables alone is not the only cause of declining health, but it is a major contributing factor.

• A balanced diet rich in produce is critical for preventing chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
• A diet lacking in nutrients from fruits and vegetables can lead to nutrient deficiencies, further compromising health.
• The “food is medicine” movement highlights how a diet-centric approach to preventative care could be key to reversing these health declines. 

The Rise of the Anti-Vegetables Generation

As mentioned above, research is revealing that fewer young people are eating fruits and vegetables, which is likely a large driver in the decline of youth health, being highlighted in recent reports. In addition to being picky eaters, this also reflects how stress, convenience, and modern sedentary lifestyle habits are defining how younger generations fuel themselves.

Some people believe that this alarming trend is because younger generations are being raised on take-out food, ready-made, and frozen foods, which places them in an unhealthy pattern of convenience. Other people suggest that not enough is being done in schools to educate children on nutrition and healthy habits. Additionally, when people become stressed (stressed spelt backwards is dessert), they often turn to food for comfort, increasing the intake of less-than-healthy options.

The anti-veggie mindset has led to younger generations experiencing higher rates of obesity compared to older generations, particularly during childhood and young adulthood. Research shows that rates have increased significantly over the past few decades, with children and adolescents currently facing a high risk. This global trend is linked to a combination of factors like diet, inactivity, and an “obesogenic” environment.  

Children and Adolescents

• Obesity rates in U.S. children aged 6-11 have risen from 7% in 1980 to 18% in 2012. 
• Similarly, adolescent obesity rates (ages 12-19) jumped from 5% to 21% during the same period. 
• In 2022, 8% of children and adolescents globally were living with obesity, compared to just 2% in 1990. 
• As of 2023, one in five children in the U.S. are obese. 

Young Adults

• A U.K. study projected that more than seven in 10 millennials will be overweight or obese by middle age, compared to about five in 10 baby boomers at the same age. 
• Research from 2018 indicated a significant increase in obesity prevalence among young adults aged 18-25. 
• Studies comparing generational trends found that younger generations have higher weights, BMIs, and obesity rates earlier in life, although levels may converge in midlife and beyond, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study. 

Contributing Factors

• Caloric imbalance: A major factor is consuming more calories than the body burns, which is a result of dietary choices and a lack of physical activity. 
• Inactivity: Younger generations are often less physically active compared to their predecessors. 
• “Obesogenic” environment: Modern environments have a significant role to play, with factors like technology use and lack of physical education in schools contributing to the problem. 
• Genetics: Family history and genetics also play a role in an individual’s susceptibility to obesity. 
• Lifestyle and socio-economic factors: Stressful life events, family problems, and limited access to healthy food options can also contribute to childhood and adolescent obesity. 

Part of the problem is that younger generations report that they can’t force themselves to eat foods they dislike. In reality, they most likely haven’t even tried them because that would take them out of their comfort zone of convenience. However, the issue isn’t a lack of knowledge of what is healthy or not. It’s a lack of structure, support, and sustainable lifestyle habits.

Encouraging Younger Generations to Eat Healthier

To encourage younger generations to eat healthier, parents and caregivers should create a positive food environment by modeling healthy behaviors, involving children in meal preparation, making healthy options easily accessible, and encouraging shared family meals. It is also important to educate them about nutrition in an age-appropriate way and promote a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, while limiting added sugars and unhealthy fats. 

Model and Involve

• Be a role model: Eat healthy foods yourself, especially during family meals, to show that you value nutritious eating. 
• Involve them in cooking: Give children age-appropriate tasks in the kitchen, such as washing vegetables, measuring ingredients, or assembling salads. This can increase their interest in what they are eating. 
• Go grocery shopping together: Let kids participate in grocery shopping, whether online or in-store. They can help choose fruits and vegetables to try. 

Create a Healthy Food Environment

• Stock a healthy kitchen: Keep the home stocked with healthy options like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit or avoid keeping unhealthy snacks like chips, cookies, and sugary sodas in the house. 
• Make healthy choices easy: Place healthy, grab-and-go snacks like cut-up fruits and vegetables, yogurt, or nuts on lower shelves in the fridge or on the counter so they are easy for kids to access. 
• Encourage water: Make water the primary beverage. Avoid sugary drinks and limit energy drinks. 

Promote Positive Eating Habits

• Eat together: Have regular family meals, even just a few times a week, and use this time to connect. Turn off the TV and put away phones and tablets to focus on the food and each other. 
• Introduce variety gradually: It can take many exposures before a child accepts a new food. Introduce new foods alongside favorites, and offer fruits and vegetables in different ways (raw, cooked, in smoothies, etc.). 
• Educate without pressuring: Talk to kids about how different foods provide energy for playing and help their brains grow. Avoid making mealtimes a battleground over food. 

Simple Healthful Habits Anyone Can Try

Don’t skip meals and become h-angry.
By skipping meals, you miss out on essential nutrients that your body needs to function properly. This can increase the risk of decreased metabolism, blood sugar fluctuations, nutrient deficiencies, cravings, mood swings, increased hunger, and reduced energy.

Control your portions — you do not have to clear the plate.
Fast food shacks, restaurants, and ready-made meals often have oversized portions. You are under no obligation to clear the plate; instead of eating until you’re overfull, stop eating when you feel satisfied. Our eyes are often bigger than our stomachs; mindful eating raises awareness of portion sizes, which can make a difference when it comes to intake of certain food groups.

Cut back on added sugar.
Every day, the average person consumes more than double the recommended limit for sugar, eating nearly 20 teaspoons of added sugar(s). Sugar-sweetened beverages, like soft drinks and fruit drinks, as well as candy and desserts, are a significant contributor to added sugar intake. Excessive amounts of added sugar can have detrimental effects on health, increasing the risk of chronic diseases, metabolic disorders, dental problems, and other health issues. 

Know the difference between boredom, thirst, and hunger.
Did you know that sometimes people think they are hungry when they are really thirsty because the signals are similar? Additionally, people eat for comfort, boredom, or stress rather than actual hunger. Before you eat something between meals, it may be helpful to ask yourself if you are hungry, thirsty, bored, or just trying to feel better. Try taking a drink of water and waiting 5 minutes to see how you feel. This small step can really change your relationship with food for the better.

Find accountability.
Accountability, this one can be hard in modern society of convenience, when you can get whatever you want with the push of a button, without leaving the house, and you can also hide behind that keyboard. But at some point, you need to take accountability for your own actions or lack thereof.

Accountability for your own health is taking responsibility for your health goals by making conscious, healthy choices and taking consistent action to achieve them. It involves being honest with yourself about your progress, acknowledging setbacks, and adjusting your behavior to get back on track. 

However, you don’t need to do this alone; a support network can help you stay on track. This could be a friend, family member, or perhaps you visit your physician, a nutritionist, or a personal trainer who can help you develop a plan and develop healthy habits that will turn into sustainable daily actions. All it takes is starting with one small change and progressing from there.

You can do this. Eat smart, move more, feel better, and be well.

This article was created by TJ Webber at the WHN News Desk.

As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.