Although research on patterns of obesity and serum cholesterol concentrations suggests possible differences in diet according to race and socioeconomic status, few nationally representative studies in the United States describe dietary differences related to race or income.1-4 In general, blacks consume less fat and energy than whites, but more cholesterol.5 A cross-sectional analysis found that blacks also consume fewer fruits and vegetables than whites.6 Dietary trends over time have not been systematically explored, and the analyses have been limited by the use of aggregate food-group categories that do not reflect important patterns in the intake of fat and fiber. The use of household data, rather than data on individual diets, has also limited previous work.7-10