Louisiana ranks 49th in national childhood nutrition index

Louisiana ranks 49th out of 50 states in early childhood nutrition for children aged 1 to 5, according to the Childhood Nutrition Index by Juice Plus+. The state scored 26 out of 100, placing it approximately 51% below the national average.

The report identifies several key factors contributing to this low ranking, including high rates of child poverty and food insecurity. Louisiana holds the highest under-five child poverty rate in the nation at 27.3%, with a household food insecurity rate of 16.2%.

Nutritional data shows that only 51% of toddlers in the state eat fruit daily, while only 40% consume vegetables daily. Additionally, over 68% of young children consume sugary drinks on a weekly basis. The index, which evaluated six government datasets, noted that Southern states occupy all 10 of the lowest-ranking positions in the country.