A Striking Survey Found That One In Four Americans Claimed To Have Never Eaten A Vegetable In Their Entire Life
For many people, being told to “eat your vegetables” probably felt like a universal experience growing up. You may have even tried to bargain your way out of doing so at dinnertime.
But, according to a survey of 2,000 Americans conducted by Talker Research for VeggieTracker.com by Dr. Praeger’s, veggies aren’t viewed as that important – or accessible – by all adults.
More specifically, the survey revealed a staggering figure. One in four Americans – or 25% – claimed to have never eaten a vegetable in their entire life!
Plus, among those who do eat their greens, it was found that the average individual only consumes vegetables in about a third of their meals.
As for which vegetables are the most favored, corn definitely took the cake, with 91.4% of survey respondents saying they enjoy this popular summer side dish. Potatoes followed closely behind at 91.2%, and tomatoes and carrots tied for third at 89%. Onions and green beans also made the top five, tying in the race at 87%.
However, you may be more interested in learning that if you hate veggies like Brussels sprouts or beets, you are actually far from alone.
First, the most hated vegetable among Americans was found to be turnips, with 27% claiming they disliked this veggie. Next up were beets at 26%, followed by radishes at 23% and brussel sprouts at 21%.
Still, the most jaw-dropping finding of this survey is that 25% of American adults are not eating their vegetables at all.
“Most of us already know they should be eating more vegetables. While more and more people are adopting plant-based diets, there’s still a long way to go toward reaching recommended consumption levels,” explained Larry Praeger, Dr. Praeger’s CEO.
Alexander Raths – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
There is still a silver lining, though. The survey showed that, despite a striking percentage of Americans not eating their veggies, 72% wished they consumed more vegetables in their diet. Additionally, 67% admitted to feeling guilty when they don’t add enough produce to their meals.
The findings further revealed some of the plights facing Americans and preventing them from adopting healthier dietary habits.
A quarter of respondents claimed the reason why they do not eat vegetables is because their produce rots too soon before they can have it.
Another 25% of respondents also reported feeling as though vegetables are simply too expensive at the grocery store.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service, food prices increased by 5.8% in 2023.
And in April 2024, the cost of “food-at-home,” which is classified as grocery store or supermarket food purchases, was 1% higher than in May 2023.
Concerns over convenience and cooking requirements are also real since 22% of Americans believe that vegetables take too long to prepare for meals. Lastly, about 20% are unsure how to properly cook veggies to incorporate them into their diet.
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