Nutrition and Black/African Americans

Good nutrition is important at every stage of life. It supports healthy growth and brain development in children, safer pregnancies, and healthy aging. Vitamins and minerals play a key role in keeping the body healthy and helping prevent disease. Adults who eat well tend to live longer and have a lower risk of serious health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

Eating too many foods high in added sugars and unhealthy fats can increase the risk of chronic disease. Healthy eating means choosing mostly whole foods like lean protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains. It also means cutting back on highly processed foods that are high in added sugars, salt, and unhealthy fats.

See “Additional Resources” to learn about strategies, guidelines, and recommendations for preventing chronic diseases through improved nutrition.

  • In 2021, Black/African American adults were about as likely as U.S. adults overall to eat fruit less than once a day, and 26% more likely to eat vegetables less than once a day.

  • In 2023, Black/African American high school students were about as likely as students nationwide to not eat fruit or drink 100% fruit juices, and 60% more likely to not eat vegetables.

  • In 2024, Black/African American children ages 1 to 5 were 40% more likely than all U.S. children in that age group to eat fruit less than once a day, and 13% more likely to eat vegetables less than once a day.

  • From 2021 to 2023, the average percentage of daily calorie intake from saturated fats was 7% lower in Black/African Americans than the U.S. population overall.

  • In 2023, Black/African American high school students were 41% more likely than students nationwide to drink soda at least twice a day.

Additional Resources

MedlinePlus

Strategies, Guidelines, and Recommendations

Related Data

Further Reading

Occurrence

Fruit and Vegetable Intake

All Ages

Mean daily intake of dark green vegetables, red and orange vegetables, and beans and peas, 2017-2020
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
0.250.30.83
Note: Data represent "cup equivalents per 1,000 calories"
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Healthy People 2030: Increase consumption of dark green vegetables, red and orange vegetables, and beans and peas by people aged 2 years and over. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Mean daily intake of total vegetables, 2017-2020
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
0.670.730.92
Note: Data represent "cup equivalents per 1,000 calories"
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Healthy People 2030: Increase vegetable consumption by people aged 2 years and older. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Mean daily intake of fruits, 2017-2020
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
0.470.490.96
Note: Data represent "cup equivalents per 1,000 calories"
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Healthy People 2030: Increase fruit consumption by people aged 2 years and over. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Adults

Adults ages 18 and over who report consuming fruit less than one time daily, percentage, 2021
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
40.239.91.01
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2025). Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Data, Trend and Maps, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System: Adults who consume fruits < 1 time daily. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Adults ages 18 and over who report consuming vegetables less than one time daily, percentage, 2021
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
26.020.61.26
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2025). Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Data, Trend and Maps, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System: Adults who consume vegetables < 1 time daily. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Adolescents

Students in grades 9-12 students who did not eat fruit or drink 100% fruit juices, percentage, 2023
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
Male5.57.00.79
Female8.16.31.29
Both Sexes6.86.71.01
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. (2024). 1991-2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey data: High school students who did not eat fruit or drink 100% fruit juices. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Students in grades 9-12 who did not eat vegetables, percentage, 2023
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
Male12.37.11.73
Female9.56.41.48
Both Sexes10.96.81.60
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. (2024). 1991-2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey data: High school students who did not eat vegetables. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Children

Children ages 1-5 years who consumed fruit less than one time daily, percentage, 2024
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
44.031.51.40
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2026). Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Data, Trend and Maps, National Survey of Children's Health: Children who consume fruits < 1 time daily. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Children ages 1-5 years who consumed vegetables less than one time daily, percentage, 2024
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
58.151.41.13
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2026). Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Data, Trend and Maps, National Survey of Children's Health: Children who consume vegetables < 1 time daily. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Saturated Fats and Fast Food

All Ages

Mean percent of total daily calorie intake from saturated fats, 2021-2023
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
11.111.90.93
"Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2026). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Healthy People 2030: Reduce consumption of saturated fat by people aged 2 years and over. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. "

Added Sugars

All Ages

Total daily calorie intake from added sugars, mean percent, 2017-2020
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
14.813.21.12
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Healthy People 2030: Reduce consumption of added sugars by people aged 2 years and over. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Adolescents

Students in grades 9-12 who drank soda two or more times per day, percentage, 2023
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
Male12.68.41.50
Female8.76.51.34
Both Sexes10.67.51.41
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. (2024). 1991-2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data: High school students who drank a can, bottle, or glass of soda or pop two or more times per day. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Children

Children ages 1-5 who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages at least one time per week, percentage, 2024
Black*Total PopulationRatio (Black* / Total)
72.257.01.27
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2026). Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Data, Trend and Maps, National Survey of Children's Health: Children who drank sugar-sweetened beverages weekly. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

*Population is non-Hispanic in the data source.


Date Last Reviewed: August 2026