People are eating more vegetables, fish, chicken and whole-grain foods, while decreasing the amount of foods they eat containing trans fats, according to the American Dietetic Association’s public opinion survey “Nutrition and You: Trends 2011.” Respondents were asked if their consumption of several different foods had gone up, down or stayed the same over the past five years. For the most part, people said their consumption in the past five years stayed the same for the following foods: dairy products (61%), pork (52%), beef (49%), chicken (49%), fruits (48%), vegetables (45%), whole-grain foods (45%) and fish (42%).

Respondents said they had increased their consumption of: vegetables (49%), whole-grain foods (48%), fish (46%) and chicken (44%). Each of the findings is consistent with the results of ADA’s last survey in 2008.

“It is good news to see that people continue to eat more vegetables, whole grains and fruits,” said Jeannie Gazzaniga-Moloo, registered dietitian and ADA spokeswoman. Asked if they had decreased consumption of any of the foods on the list, respondents said they had cut back on: beef (39%), pork (35%) and dairy products (22%). In 2008, 49% of respondents said their beef consumption had dropped in the past five years; 54% for pork; and 62% for dairy products.

“Cutbacks on pork, beef and dairy may reflect movement toward lower overall consumption of saturated fat; however, cutting back particularly on dairy can also reduce people’s intake of calcium and vitamin D,” said Ms. Gazzaniga-Moloo.

Respondents to ADA’s survey were also asked whether in the past five years they had increased or decreased consumption of several foods and nutrients that have received substantial public and scientific attention. Respondents said they were most likely to have increased consumption of: berries (48%), low-fat foods (43%), omega 3 fatty acids (39%), low-sugar foods (34%) and low-sodium foods (31%).