Sources of energy and six nutrients in diets of low-income Hispanic-American women and their children: quantitative data from HHANES, 1982-1984.
OBJECTIVE
Identification of important food sources of energy, protein, fat, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron for low-income Hispanic women and their children.


METHODS
A subset of 24-hour recalls from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES), a sample representing 76% of the Hispanic-origin population, provides the most comprehensive examination of Hispanic food habits in the United States.


METHODS
The sample, which approximates the population of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), included 1,046 17- to 34-year-old women with household income less than 185% of poverty level and their 1- to 5-year-old children (n = 1,063).


METHODS
Tables show the percentage that each food contributes to total intake of energy and six nutrients for women and for children and percentage of persons who reported consuming each food during a 24-hour period.


RESULTS
Cultural foods contributed less to the energy and nutrient intake of the population than expected, with few exceptions, notably beans, rice, tortillas, and salsa. Major sources of energy and nutrients were similar to those seen for blacks and whites in the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1976-1980).


CONCLUSIONS
The data presented should be useful to researchers designing dietary assessment instruments and to nutrition educators designing or adapting educational materials. The data may be of particular interest to WIC staff who work with low-income Hispanic populations.
School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley 94720.
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Norris
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Mandel
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DiSogra
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003462:Cuba / Q000208:ethnology; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017058:Mexican Americans; D009519:New York City; D011203:Poverty; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D015206:Southwestern United States; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A; D007501:Iron; D001205:Ascorbic Acid