Children

What are we teaching our children to eat?

Elementary students and a teacher gathered around fruit and a sandwich

Children do not independently create the food environment around them. Adults, schools, companies, stores, advertising, and culture influence what becomes normal.

The calories children eat are a record of that environment. In the United States, from August 2021 through August 2023, youth ages 1–18 got 61.9% of their calories from ultra-processed foods. Children ages 6–11 were highest, at 64.8%.

Ultra-processed food consumption by age

Mean percentage of daily calories from ultra-processed foods in the United States, August 2021–August 2023.

Ages 1–556.1%
Ages 6–1164.8%
Ages 12–1863.0%
Ages 19–3954.4%
Ages 40–5952.6%
Ages 60+51.7%

0% to 80% of daily calories

The highest figure is school-age children. Ages 6–11 receive 64.8% of calories from ultra-processed foods. Source: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, August 2021–August 2023. Ultra-processed foods follow the Nova classification. NCHS Data Brief No. 536.

Two teenagers cooking a simple meal at home

Vowels teaches families, schools, and communities how to read that environment: labels, ingredients, meals, and the difference between food that is simply prepared and food that has become the default. The aim is awareness, so the next set of normal choices can be understood on purpose.

LunchboxesSchool lunchSugar