| Abstract: | A case study approach was used to study 10 limited resource farm families to identify factors relative to the farm family situation that are associated with adequate or inadequate food habits. Dietary measures were developed and adequacy of diets was analyzed in relation to gender, women's off- or on-farm employment, predominant farm activities, and cohesiveness. Traditional families, with two adults present and the women employed on the farm, had the most adequate diets and higher cohesiveness ratings. Families in transition, with women employed off the farm or headed by widowed women farmers, had the poorest diets nutritionally and tended to have lower cohesiveness ratings. The presence of a food source raised or grown for income purposes did not guarantee the use of the food for family consumption. |
