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- Tennessee ranked 43rd nationwide for supporting healthy nutrition among children ages 1 to 5 in a new Childhood Nutrition Index produced by nutrition brand Juice Plus+.
Why It Matters
- The study points to high sugary-drink consumption, childhood poverty and below-average daily fruit and vegetable consumption among young Tennessee children.
What Happens Next
- The findings add to ongoing discussion about childhood nutrition, food access and family poverty across Tennessee.
Catch Up
- Tennessee ranked worst state to live in, CNBC study finds
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Tennessee is among the lowest-ranked states for childhood nutrition, according to a new index from nutrition brand Juice Plus+
The study ranked Tennessee 43rd out of 50 states, giving it a score of 44 out of 100 — 16% below the national average
<img src="https://healthylife7.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WCZWEBRKNJC6BHZCWR4ZBCEHIA-1.png” alt=””>
The index examined six government datasets involving fruit and vegetable consumption, sugary drink consumption, access to nutritious food, food insecurity and child poverty among children ages 1 to 5
More than seven in 10 Tennessee children in that age group have at least one sugary drink a week, the study found, which is 26% above the national average
The report found 66% of young children in Tennessee eat fruit daily, while 48% eat vegetables daily. It also found 18.1% of children under 5 in Tennessee live in poverty
Tennessee was among the 10 lowest-ranked states in the index, all located in the South
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