According to research findings published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, less than 12 percent of American children are eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables.
The study, of almost 900 children between the ages of 11 and 15 not only found that fruit and vegetable consumption fell well below the recommended amount, 32 percent of participants received more than 10 percent of their total energy from saturated fat. Saturated fat has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
Family dietary patterns were found to be associated with adolescent's food choices. Parents' consumption of fat, fruit and vegetables was identified as a predictor of eating habits among the participants.
In comparison, 70 percent of Canadian children between the ages of 4 are not getting the recommended daily minimum of five servings of fruit and vegetables.
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