When it comes to eating vegetables, Americans aren’t doing much better than your average school kid. Only 4 percent meet their daily required consumption of veggies, according to the National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance.
The 2015 Report Card by the Alliance has given kids a grade D with vegetable consumption, while the marketing of vegetables has received an F.
But even with the growing popularity of vegetable-forward restaurants and veggie-inspired meals, there is still a lack of vegetables consumed at home. The 2015 Report Card says that the problem is getting worse. The average consumption of vegetables, which excludes fried potatoes, declined by 6 percent during the past five years.
“Dinner looks different these days. The growing popularity of convenience items and one-dish meals, such as pizza and sandwiches, has pushed the vegetable side dish off the plate.” the report reads.
When it comes to preparing home meals, the article suggests that parents may not be as strict on making sure their kids have enough vegetables. Elizabeth Pivonka, registered dietitian and president and CEO of the Produce for Better Health Foundation, explains that parents don’t want to be line cooks and make tailored meals for everyone at home.
“It used to be: This is what we’re eating, so eat it,” Pivonka says.
One third of parents (35 percent) view getting their kids to eat vegetables as a battle, just behind getting them to clean their room and to stop bickering.