How Many Servings of Fruits and Vegetables Should People Eat Daily?

Fruits and vegtables promote a healthy diet.

Guidelines Call for Five Servings a Day

The old standard of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is based on the average person. You can still use this as a guide to fruit and vegetable consumption, but remember your body may require a different amount.

Age, Sex and Activity Level Affect Your Needs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations in 2010 factor in your age, sex and activity level to determine the amount of fruits and vegetables you require each day. To help you find the specific amount of each that is right for you, the CDC offers a convenient calculator on its website.

Bottom Line

As a general guideline, consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables a day promotes a healthy diet. The ratio of fruits to vegetables varies according to age, sex and activity level.

References

• 5aDay: Introducing the Next Generation of 5 a Day

Resources

• CDC: How Many Fruits and Vegetables Do You Need?