Diet Quality of Americans by Food Stamp Participation Status: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2004) provide a comprehensive picture of the nutrient intakes, diet quality, and food choices of Food Stamp Program (FSP) participants. Data are presented for FSP participants, income-eligible nonparticipants, and higher income non-participants, broken out by age and gender.

In general, there are more similarities than differences across the three groups. Where differences occur, they tend to fall along income lines: Food Stamp participants and low income nonparticipants differed more from higher income individuals than each other.