Nutrition and American Indians/Alaska Natives

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, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults were 5% more likely than U.S. adults overall to eat fruit less than once a day, and about as likely to eat vegetables less than once a day.
In 2023, AI/AN high school students were 94% more likely than students nationwide to not eat fruit or drink 100% fruit juices, and 10% more likely to not eat vegetables.
In 2022, AI/AN children ages 1 to 5 were 15% less likely than all U.S. children in that age group to eat fruit less than once a day, and 30% less likely to eat vegetables less than once a day.

Additional Resources

MedlinePlus

Nutrition (in multiple languages)
Child Nutrition

Strategies, Guidelines, and Recommendations

Related Data

Further Reading

Occurrence

Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Adults

Adults ages 18 and over who report consuming fruit less than one time daily, percentage, 2021
AI/AN	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN / Total)
41.9	39.9	1.05

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
AI/AN	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN / Total)
20.4	20.6	0.99

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
	AI/AN*	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN* / Total)
Male	12.7	7.0	1.81
Female	13.4	6.3	2.13
Both Sexes	13.0	6.7	1.94

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
	AI/AN*	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN* / Total)
Male	11.0	7.1	1.55
Female	3.5	6.4	0.55
Both Sexes	7.5	6.8	1.10

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, 2022
AI/AN	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN / Total)
28.2	33.2	0.85

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, 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, 2022
AI/AN	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN / Total)
35.1	50.4	0.70

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, National Survey of Children's Health: Children who consume vegetables < 1 time daily. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Added Sugars

Adolescents

Students in grades 9-12 who drank soda two or more times per day, percentage, 2023
	AI/AN*	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN* / Total)
Male	20.4	8.4	2.43
Female	7.0	6.5	1.08
Both Sexes	12.8	7.5	1.71

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, 2022
AI/AN	Total Population	Ratio (AI/AN / Total)
63.1	57.7	1.09

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, 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: March 2026