Our objectives were to quantify the intrahousehold distribution of food in an Andean community and to relate this distribution to dietary adequacy. Dietary information was collected using the 24-hour-recall method (n = 155 in 35 households; two or more recalls per subject). We found that food was served equitably (according to energy and protein requirements), yet the risk of inadequate intakes of four micronutrients was age-related. This was largely a function of age-based differences in micronutrient requirements per unit of energy, rather than variations in composition of the diet. A simple reallotment of food to those with higher requirements will not solve this problem, since the micronutrient density of the average diet is relatively low. Targeting of nutrient-dense foods would be difficult in this and other similar developing-world communities that are accustomed to a common pot from which foods of homogeneous composition are served. Feasible alternatives include nutrition education programmes and fortification of foods (salt, sugar, and oil) with micronutrients.
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