Our impact
Evidence first.
Every number on Vowels shows the statistic, what it means, the source, and the date. Awareness is the impact we can account for today. Program results will be reported the same way as education reaches more families.
61.9%
Youth ages 1–18 consumed 61.9% of their calories from ultra-processed foods.
CDC/NCHS, NHANES, August 2021–August 202364.8%
Children ages 6–11 received the highest share, nearly two-thirds of calories, from ultra-processed foods.
CDC/NCHS, NHANES, August 2021–August 202365.6% → 61.9%
Among youth, the mean share of calories from ultra-processed foods fell from 2017–2018 to August 2021–August 2023. The level is still high. The direction shows change is possible.
CDC/NCHS Data Brief No. 53627%
27% of U.S. high school students ate breakfast every day during the 7 days before the survey.
CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2025Eat real food
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 prioritize nutrient-dense foods and home-prepared meals, and tell Americans to avoid highly processed salty or sweet foods and sugar-sweetened beverages.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030What support funds
Contributions support nutrition education, free lessons, work with children and families, translation of new research, and practical tools for understanding real food. Vowels will report supporters, lessons, and people reached when those records are complete. We do not publish a fundraising total until it can be sourced.