Food Energy and Nutrients Per Dollar's Worth of Food From Available Home Food Supplies

Abstract

Data from the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey, 1977–78, were used to assess effects of household size and composition, household income, and eli gibility/participation in the Food Stamp Program (FSP) on the food energy and nutrients per dollar's worth of food from the household food supply during one week. Mean food energy, protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamin A per food dollar were calculated for selected sample partitions. Household size, in come, FSP participation, and other socioeconomic variables were regressed on food energy and nutrients per food dollar. Results indicated that household size had a statistically significant and positive impact on nutrients per dollar's worth of food except for vitamin A. Household income had a statistically significant and negative impact on nutrients per food dollar. Households that participated in the FSP had greater food energy and nutrient return per dollar than households eligible but not participating in the FSP. However, these differences for FSP par ticipation were statistically significant only for calcium.