Statement of the Problem. The purpose of the research was to describe the present dietary habits of Vietnamese, Black and Caucasian Elementary Public School students in two schools of Orleans Parish. The objectives of the study were to determine: (1) similarities and differences in the dietary habits and socio-demographic characteristics of the three ethnic groups; (2) average consumption of each of nineteen nutrients in the three ethnic groups; and (3) average consumption of nineteen nutrients compared to one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for the seven to ten year old students of each ethnic group Method and Material. To achieve the objective of this study a dietary questionnaire was sent home to the parents. The dietary questionnaire was used to obtain data on the dietary habits and socio-demographic characteristics of the three groups of students. Data from 126 questionnaires were tabulated and analyzed. A plate waste study of school lunch for 150 students from each of the three ethnic groups in the two schools was conducted and nineteen nutrients were analyzed, and were compared to one-third of the RDA Findings and Conclusions. Caucasians had the highest yearly incomes, smallest households and spent more money on weekly food purchases. Vietnamese students consumed less milk and consumed breakfast and dinner less frequently than the other two groups. Foods most commonly disliked by all three ethnic groups were vegetables The mean nutrient levels meeting one-third RDA for all three ethnic groups were for: protein, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B(,12) and phosphorus. School lunch trays of food served to the students did not meet one-third RDA for the following nutrients: calories, iodine, magnesium folacin and vitamin E. There were no significant differences for the mean levels of all nineteen nutrients for the three ethnic groups
