P. Peter Basiotis

Dietary intakes and selected characteristics of women ages 19–50 years and their children ages 1–5 years by reported perception of food sufficiency

Abstract In order to explore dietary intakes and selected socio-demographic, economic and health related characteristics associated with self-reported perception of food sufficiency status (FSS), data from the USDA Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII), One-Day Data, Low-Income for 1985 and 1986 were analyzed. These surveys consist of a partial probability sample of over 3,000 U.S. households containing at least one female member between 19 and 50 years old. The data indicated that lower levels of intake were associated with reported food insufficiency for women. This relationship did not appear to be as strong for children. Also the perception of food sufficiency status was negatively correlated to level of household income as a percent of poverty. It appears that individuals have, on average, the ability to reliably estimate their own FSS. It is unclear, however, if a proxy would be as reliable a source of information for the childrens intake.

Maintaining Food and Nutrition Security in the United States with Welfare Reform

Researchers in nutrition (Berg) and economics (Fogel) have recognized the importance of social human capital investment in proper nutrition, which contributes to more productive, healthy individuals. This paper reviews the federal commitment to domestic food security; discusses recently adopted welfare reform measures, including significant cuts in the Food Stamp Program (FSP); briefly discusses complementary nutrition programs; and provides preliminary estimates of the expected impacts of FSP cuts on the food expenditures and nutritional status of one targeted group: able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). Results suggest that without compensation, nutritional effects could be significant. This points in turn to the importance of effective monitoring of welfare reform effects on these and other vulnerable groups along with additional research needs.

Differences in the dietary quality of adults living in single versus multiperson households

Abstract Because nearly 25% of American adults live in single-person households, it is important to examine the quality of their diets. Using data from the U.S. Department of Agricultures 1987–88 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey, we compared the diets of adults living in single-person households to those living in multiperson households by selected sex-age groups. Dietary quality was examined in terms of intake as a percent of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for 15 essential nutrients, a measure of dietary adequacy, and of intake of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, a measure of dietary moderation. To facilitate comparisons, indices reflecting dietary adequacy and dietary moderation were constructed. Overall, single women and men reported fewer intakes meeting the RDA and consequently had lower dietary adequacy scores than their counterparts in multiperson households. However, these individuals had significantly better dietary moderation scores than their counterparts in multiperson households. Based on these results, the dietary moderation and dietary adequacy indices may be useful for identification of factors influencing overall diets and for prediction of dietary status of groups of individuals sharing common characteristics. These indices may also be valuable to nutrition educators because they provide measures of dietary compliance with specific aspects of current dietary recommendations.

Food stamps, food costs, nuctrient availbility, and nutrient intake

Abstract The Food Stamp Program (FSP) is designed to increase the food expenditures and the diet status of low income households. However, suprisingly little is known about the relationships among income, FSP bonus, FSP participation, availability of nutrients in household food supplies and individual nutrients intakes. Data from the special Low Income Component of the 1977–1978 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey were utilized to estimate effects of FSP participation on food expenditures, nutrient availability, and nutrient intake. The estimation procedure utilized a principal components index for characterizing availability and intake of the included nutrients. Results showed that FSP participation and the bonus increased food expenditures and improved the nutritional status of diets of low income household members. Nutrient availability and intake levels for FSP participants were increased by as much as 10–15% per week for selected nutrients.