PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN MEETING THE RECOMMENDED DIETARY-ALLOWANCES FOR MENUS DESIGNED ACCORDING TO THE DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS

Forty-three menus that were to be used in a diet manual were designed to meet the requirements of a specific diet; provide 2,200 to 2,400 kc al, unless energy-restricted; meet the 1990 Dietary Guidelines for Ame ricans; meet current recommendations for sodium (2g to 3 g/day), chole sterol (less than or equal to 300 mg/day), and fiber (20g to 30 g/day) ; and meet or exceed the highest level for adults in the 1989 Recommen ded Dietary Allowances (RDAs). In addition, regular and low-fat, low-c holesterol menus for I week were collected from 11 hospitals throughou t Arkansas. Menus were analyzed for energy, cholesterol, and 18 nutrie nts. Only 11% of the menus met the RDA for zinc. Half of the menus did not meet the RDA for vitamin B-6 and one third did not meet the RDA f or iron. Zinc content of the menus was positively correlated (P<.001) with protein (r=.73) and with beef (r=.45). Vitamin B-6 was positively correlated with protein (r=.44, P<.001) and with all meat (r=.38, P<. 01). Regular and low-fat, low-cholesterol hospital menus had the same nutrient inadequacies because they did not differ in total servings fr om any food group. These data indicate that the public may have diffic ulty choosing a diet that meets both the Dietary Guidelines and the RD As.