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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a new report in its recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on U.S. adults' intake of fruit and vegetables. The report is based on 2013 data, and the news isn't great: “In 2013, most adults consumed too few fruits and vegetables, with substantial variation by state.”

Indeed, the CDC lays out a challenging picture: “Overall, 13.1% of respondents met fruit intake recommendations, ranging from 7.5% in Tennessee to 17.7% in California, and 8.9% met vegetable recommendations, ranging from 5.5% in Mississippi to 13.0% in California. Substantial new efforts are needed to build consumer demand for fruits and vegetables through competitive pricing, placement, and promotion in child care, schools, grocery stores, communities, and worksites.”

To see how your state fares, click here.

The Mayo Clinic's Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. also reviewed the study's results: “Seventy-six percent of adults didn't meet fruit intake recommendations, and 87 percent didn't meet vegetable recommendations. Among children, 60 percent didn't meet fruit intake recommendations, and 93 percent didn't meet vegetable recommendations. Half of the total U.S. population consumed less than 1 cup of fruit and less than 1 1/2 cups of vegetables daily.”

Zeratsky adds very helpful tips: “Every time you eat, include a fruit or vegetable, or one of each. Sounds simple, and it is with a little planning. Here's how to make it happen:”

• “Plan for it. Get more fruits and vegetables in the house. Get them on your plate.”
• “Store smart. Put produce at eye level in the fridge or in a bowl right on the counter.”
• “Pack it. Put 2 to 3 options in your lunch sack, purse, gym bag or briefcase. Don't leave home without them.”
• “Eat it. Enjoy fruits and vegetables simply or look for ways to include them in entrees and side dishes. Want dessert? Put more strawberries and banana than ice cream in a bowl — still delicious!”

To help understand the recommended requirements, ChooseMyPlate.gov offers guidelines for fruit and vegetables: