The Simple Rule to Eat Healthier Than 90% of Americans - Short 1/28/2026
Share
Why making half your plate plants puts you ahead of most Americans
If you follow this simple rule you will eat healthier than over 90% of Americans.
In the United States most people don't eat enough fiber, and are lacking key vitamins like vitamin K, D, and C. Many also lack essential minerals like potassium and magnesium.
The rule that fixes this? Make more than half your plate plants.
According to the CDC, over 90% of Americans don't eat enough fruits and vegetables. So if half of your plate is plants most days, you're already doing better than most people without any tracking required.
The Fiber Problem
Only about 5% of the population meets fiber recommendations. On average, Americans consume only about 58% of the recommended fiber intake.
Source: Closing America's Fiber Intake Gap – PMC
Source: USDA Economic Research Service – Dietary Fiber Consumption
Vitamin Deficiencies Are Common
According to NHANES data, a significant portion of Americans have inadequate intake of key vitamins:
- Vitamin D: 94.3% do not meet daily requirements
- Vitamin K: 66.9% have intakes lower than adequate
- Vitamin C: 38.9% have inadequate intake
Source: Linus Pauling Institute – Micronutrient Inadequacies in the US Population
Source: Inadequacy of Immune Health Nutrients – PMC
Mineral Gaps
Potassium and magnesium are both underconsumed by most Americans:
- Potassium: 100% of the population has intakes lower than the Adequate Intake. The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans identifies potassium as a nutrient of public health concern.
- Magnesium: 48% of Americans ingest less magnesium than their Estimated Average Requirements. More than half of the US population has intakes below recommended levels.
Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements – Potassium Fact Sheet
Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements – Magnesium Fact Sheet
The 90% Statistic
Only 9% of adults ate the recommended amount of vegetables and 12% of adults ate the recommended amount of fruit, according to CDC analysis. In both 2015 and 2019, only about 1 in 10 adults met recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake.
Source: CDC – Only 1 in 10 Adults Get Enough Fruits or Vegetables
Source: CDC – State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables
The Solution Is Simple
You don't need to track macros or count calories. Just look at your plate. If more than half of it is plants — vegetables, fruits, leafy greens — you're already ahead of 90% of Americans.
That's it. No app required.