“Let Them Not Be Drinking Juice” – And the People Comply

Typically, the news we read about adherence to dietary advice is a little depressing. We read report after report saying our diets are terrible. But here is a bright spot. For some time now, doctors – especially pediatricians – have been telling us: “Juice is not healthy.” Whole fruit is better. Surprisingly, people seem to be paying attention; we are drinking less juice and sticking with whole fruit.

Dum spiro spero indeed.

Favorable Trends 2003 to 2018

These data come from Sabrina Young and colleagues at the USDA. (God bless our public servants.) They analyzed data from NHANES and the USDA Economic Research Service on fruit and juice consumption, going back to 2003.

They found that consumption of whole and cut fruit was stable or rising for some people. But juice consumption is clearly dropping. In aggregate, these researchers found a 14% decline in juice and whole fruit consumption between 2003 and 2021 that was entirely driven by the drop in juice consumption.

Especially Children

The trends are especially favorable for children and youth, who are getting better nutrition at school:

“Children were found to fare best. The fruit density of children’s diets increased from an average of 0.55 cup equivalents per 1,000 calories in 2003–04 to 0.74 cup equivalents per 1,000 calories in 2017–18.

“In-school meals drove the increase in fruit consumption among children. The fruit density of children’s diets when eating at school increased from 1 cup equivalent per 1,000 calories in 2003–04 to 1.36 cup equivalents per 1,000 calories in 2017–18.”

Score one for school cafeterias.

Nattering Negativity

So the next time you are stuck in a conversation filled with nattering negativity about our lousy diets stuffed with ultra-processed foods, take heart. You can offer up this bright spot of a hopeful trend. Americans are drinking less juice and eating their fresh fruit whole.

Click here for the report from Young et al and here for perspective on the problems with overconsumption of juice.

The Bar Counter, painting by Maurice de Vlaminck / WikiArt

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February 28, 2025