LEARNING OUTCOME: To determine associations between eating 5 or more fruits or vegetables on BMI, %body fat, nutrient intake, smoking, exercise, and alcohol intake. Does participation in Food Stamp or WIC programs, more education or higher incomes increase the likelihood that individuals will ingest 5 or more fruits or vegetables daily? What effect does consumption of 5 fruits or vegetables have on body mass index (BMI), percent body fat, intake of selected nutrients, and smoking, frequency of physical exercise, and alcohol intake? A sample of 328 women, 15 to 81 years of age (x̄ = 35), were studied to provide answers to these questions. Approximately half of the subjects had not completed high school, 57% had annual household incomes below $10,000 and 64% were black. Data on smoking, exercise, and alcohol intake were obtained from the Carter Center Health Risk Appraisal. Nutrient intakes were determined from a detailed 24-hour recalls taken by registered dietitians. A Student's t-test was used to determine significant differences between the two groups (intakes of < 5 fruit or vegetables and ≥ 5 fruit or vegetables). No significant differences were found in consumption of fruits and vegetables based on participation in Food Stamp or WIC programs or for higher incomes or educational levels. Subjects who reported ingesting ≥ 5 fruits or vegetables, however, had lower BMIs (p=0.002), lower percent body fat (p=0.001), and greater intake of vitamin A (p=0.00001), calcium (p=0.0001), and iron (p=0.00001). Individuals who reported eating 5 or more fruits or vegetables per day were less likely to smoke cigarettes (p=0.01), but exercise and alcohol intake patterns were not related to fruit and vegetable intake.