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.

Design 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.

Subjects/samples 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).

Main outcome measures 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).

Applications 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. J Am Diet Assoc. 1995;95: 195-208.