Nutritive intake of black and Hispanic mothers in a Brooklyn ghetto

The nutritional status of black and Hispanic mothers living in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York, was evaluated, using three-day dietary recall, a questionnaire on food buying and preparation techniques, and anthropometric measurements. Mean nutrient intake of both groups was considerably lower than the 1974 Recommended Dietary Allowances for all nutrients studied except protein, ascorbic acid, and phosphorus. Body weight and triceps skinfold values for both groups were higher than standard, suggesting obesity. Reasons for these findings are discussed with emphasis on the importance of nutrition education.