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Actual performance of the homemaker in feeding her family was found to be considerably better than her the oretical knowledge on the subject. However, the food groups about which knowledge was weakest were also those most poorly used. The adequacy of food used appeared to be related to nutritional knowledge.

Magazines and newspapers are reported most frequently by homemakers as sources of information on foods and nutrition. The most common food problems with which they want help are those related to meal planning and budgeting.

The relation of fat intake to atherosclerosis is still an unsolved question. With it comes the problem of the proportional number of calories in the diet from fat, carbohydrate, and protein. In this study data on dietary intake of college men have been broken down to supply such information.

Do food dislikes seriously interfere with adequate nutrition?

The effect of stepwise weight reduction on the nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus metabolism of 8 obese young men was studied by means of the balance technic. Seven-day balances were performed during pre-reduction weight maintenance and during the last week of each reduction period.

Moderately obese young college men pursuing their usual activities were studied first during a 3-week prereduction weight maintenance period and subsequently were distributed into three isocaloric, isoprotein diet subgroups, which varied as to level of carbohydrate in the diet. On the 1,800-kcal reduction diet consumed over a 9-week period, diet Acontained 104 g carbohydrate/day; diet B, 60 g; diet C,30 g. The three-man subgroups were matched as closely as possible on the basis of maintenance caloric requirement and percent body weight as fat.Weight loss, fat loss, and percent weight loss as fat appeared to be inversely related to the level of carbohydrate in the isocaloric, isoprotein diets. No adequate explanation can be given for weight loss differences.There were no outstanding differences in nitrogen, sodium, or potassium balances among the diet groups. The little effect on blood lipids that was observed was probably most favorable to the highest carbohydrate diet group A.The outstanding difference among diet groups was in the daily urinary excretion of ketone bodies. Although initially all subjects showed some ketone bodies in the urine, the bodies increased with decreasing carbohydrate and the urine continued to show them longer (throughout the 9-week period) and in greater abundance on the most restricted carbohydrate intake.Any of the low carbohydrate levels in the reduction diet under study were effective in controlling hunger.From a practical point of view, it would appear that of the low carbohydrate diets used, the one at the 104-g level would be most suitable for long-term use for the reasons cited.From the appearance of ketone bodies in the urine over a more than transient period, it would appear that the carbohydrate level on the 1,800-kcal, 115-g protein diet should be slightly above 60 g.

This survey of homemakers indicates that only about a quarter have even a fair understanding of nutrition related to feeding their families. The greatest need for more nutritional knowledge by hom.e1nakers is in regard to: ascorbic-acid-rich and carotene-rich fruits and vegetables; the adult need for milk; and the nutritional value of breads and cereals, and of butter and fortified margarine.

Why are some people less well fed than might he wished? Is one possible reason that the homemaker does not know what constitutes an adequate diet? This paper describes a study of homenlakers in two cities of Upstate New York