The study on which thin paper was based was primarily designed to answer two questions: (1) Are diets of participants in the Food Distribution and Food Stamp Programs, as a group nutritionally superior to those of comparable non-participating low income households; and (2) which of the two programs results in a higher level of nutritional achievement. Reasons for program particiption or non participation, and the effect of the. programs, and various · charteristics of sample households on expenditures for food and levels of nutritional achievement were also considered. Characteristics investigated; were ethnicity;income., including its level, stability, and frequency of receipt and days since payday; educational level of head of household and homemaker; age of head of household and homemaker; sex of head of household and of homemaker; size of household composition of household and residence.