Diet quality statistics show a mixed picture of U.S. eating patterns. The average Healthy Eating Index-2015 score was 59 out of 100 in 2015–2016, while more recent data show that most people consumed some fruit and vegetables on a given day but that specific food groups varied substantially by age and sex. The figures below describe measured U.S. populations and dates; they are not forecasts or universal targets.
Contents
- Overall diet quality by age
- Adult fruit and vegetable patterns
- Children and adolescents
- What people drink
- Nutrients and food groups per 1,000 calories
- Fast-food density compared with recommendations
Overall diet quality by age
The Healthy Eating Index-2015 is scored from 0 to 100, with the score summarizing alignment with the dietary pattern measured by the index. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025, the average score for people age 2 and older was 59 out of 100 in 2015–2016.
Scores differed across age groups. Children ages 2–4 averaged 61, while children ages 5–8 averaged 55. The average for children ages 9–13 was 52, and adolescents ages 14–18 had the lowest listed score at 51. Among adults, people ages 19–30 averaged 56, adults ages 31–59 averaged 59, and adults age 60 and older averaged 63.
| Age group | Average HEI-2015 score, 2015–2016 |
|---|---|
| Age 2 and older | 59 |
| Ages 2–4 | 61 |
| Ages 5–8 | 55 |
| Ages 9–13 | 52 |
| Ages 14–18 | 51 |
| Ages 19–30 | 56 |
| Ages 31–59 | 59 |
| Age 60 and older | 63 |
These are population averages for the stated period. They should not be read as individual diet scores, and the 2015–2016 measurement period should remain attached when comparing the figures with newer consumption data.
Adult fruit and vegetable patterns
The CDC report Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023 measures whether adults age 20 and older consumed particular fruit or vegetable groups on a given day. It does not describe servings or whether a person met a recommended amount.
Any fruit was reported by 69.9% of adults age 20 and older. The sex-specific figures were 66.1% for men and 73.5% for women. Looking at narrower categories, 27.2% of men and 35.2% of women consumed citrus, melons, or berries on a given day. Other whole fruit was consumed by 47.0% of men and 52.9% of women.
Vegetables appeared more broadly in the day-level measure: 93.3% of adults consumed any vegetables. However, the categories were not equally common. Dark green vegetables were consumed by 33.7% of men and 41.8% of women. Across adults, 76.7% consumed red and orange vegetables, while 77.1% consumed other vegetables.
The pattern illustrates why “ate fruit or vegetables” is an incomplete measure of diet quality. Any-vegetable consumption was high, but the dark-green category was reported by a smaller share. Likewise, the fruit figures vary depending on whether the measure includes any fruit, a selected fruit group, or other whole fruit.
Children and adolescents
The CDC’s Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Children and Adolescents: United States, August 2021–August 2023 uses the same given-day framing for people ages 2–19. Across that full age range, 77.0% consumed any fruit and 91.2% consumed any vegetables.
Fruit consumption declined across the listed age groups. Any fruit was reported by 91.8% of children ages 2–5, 83.3% of children ages 6–11, and 66.2% of adolescents ages 12–19. For citrus, melons, or berries, the corresponding figures were 53.9%, 44.1%, and 25.3%. Across all ages 2–19, 37.2% consumed that fruit category.
Other whole fruit was consumed by 55.5% of children and adolescents ages 2–19. The figure was 71.4% among ages 2–5 and 58.4% among ages 6–11. No adolescent estimate for this specific category is included in the reported figures here, so the available values should not be extended beyond their stated groups.
Vegetable categories also differed. Among ages 2–19, 24.6% consumed dark green vegetables and 56.3% consumed other vegetables on a given day. The overall any-vegetable figure of 91.2% therefore coexists with lower percentages for narrower categories.
Taken together, the child and adolescent estimates describe exposure to categories, not portion sizes. They also use August 2021–August 2023 data, whereas the age-based Healthy Eating Index scores above come from 2015–2016. The two periods should not be treated as a single trend line.
What people drink
The CDC report Nonalcoholic Beverage Consumption Among Youth and Adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023 reports each beverage category’s share of nonalcoholic beverage consumption on a given day. Water supplied 57.2% of youth consumption and 57.3% of adult consumption in that period.
Among youth, milk supplied 16.1%, 100% fruit juice supplied 5.5%, and sweetened beverages supplied 15.3% of nonalcoholic beverage consumption. For adults, sweetened beverages supplied 11.2%, milk 4.6%, and 100% fruit juice 2.0%. Coffee and tea supplied 20.1% of adult consumption, while diet beverages supplied 4.8%.
| Beverage category | Youth, 2021–2023 | Adults, 2021–2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 57.2% | 57.3% |
| Milk | 16.1% | 4.6% |
| 100% fruit juice | 5.5% | 2.0% |
| Sweetened beverages | 15.3% | 11.2% |
The same report includes an earlier comparison point: water supplied 42.4% of youth nonalcoholic beverage consumption in 2013–2014 and 46.9% of adult consumption in 2013–2014. These historical figures are presented as reported and should not be treated as independently verified here or as a complete explanation of change over time.
Nutrients and food groups per 1,000 calories
The USDA Economic Research Service table The 2020–2025 recommended and 2017–2018 nutrient and food group density reports U.S. consumer intake densities for 2017–2018. Density expresses amounts relative to 1,000 calories, which helps compare eating patterns across different total calorie intakes.
U.S. consumers reported 8.05 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories and 7.9 teaspoons of added sugars per 1,000 calories. Saturated fat supplied 11.81% of calories. Sodium intake was 1,688 milligrams per 1,000 calories.
Food-group densities included 0.71 cups of total vegetables, 0.49 cups of fruits, and 0.43 ounces of whole grains per 1,000 calories. Refined grains were reported at 2.77 ounces per 1,000 calories, dairy at 0.75 cups, and seafood at 0.272022 ounces.
| Measure | U.S. consumer density, 2017–2018 |
|---|---|
| Fiber | 8.05 g per 1,000 calories |
| Added sugars | 7.9 tsp per 1,000 calories |
| Saturated fat | 11.81% of calories |
| Sodium | 1,688 mg per 1,000 calories |
| Total vegetables | 0.71 cups per 1,000 calories |
| Fruits | 0.49 cups per 1,000 calories |
| Whole grains | 0.43 oz per 1,000 calories |
| Refined grains | 2.77 oz per 1,000 calories |
| Dairy | 0.75 cups per 1,000 calories |
| Seafood | 0.272022 oz per 1,000 calories |
These values are densities, not daily personal prescriptions. The measurement year is 2017–2018, and the source table presents the consumer figures alongside recommended densities for the 2020–2025 dietary-guideline period.
Fast-food density compared with recommendations
The same USDA Economic Research Service table reports fast-food density ratios against the recommended density in 2017–2018. A ratio below 1 means the reported fast-food density was below the recommendation used in that table; a ratio above 1 means it was above that reference density.
Fast-food fiber density was 0.425 times the recommended density. Fast-food fruit density was 0.16 times the recommended density, and fast-food whole-grain density was 0.08 times the recommended density. In contrast, fast-food added-sugar density was 1.319327731 times the recommended density, while fast-food sodium density was 1.519695652 times the recommended density.
| Fast-food measure | Ratio to recommended density, 2017–2018 |
|---|---|
| Fiber | 0.425× |
| Added sugars | 1.319327731× |
| Sodium | 1.519695652× |
| Fruit | 0.16× |
| Whole grains | 0.08× |
The ratios are specific to the table’s fast-food classification and reference densities. They do not describe every restaurant meal or establish what any individual ate. Read alongside the broader U.S. density figures, they identify the particular nutrient and food-group dimensions included in this dataset: fiber, added sugars, sodium, fruit, and whole grains.