Use dietary reference standards and typical food-purchasing patterns to define four official U.S. Department of Agriculture food plans: (1) the Thrifty Food Plan, used as the basis for the Food Stamp Program; (2) and (3) the moderate and liberal food plans, used as the basis for military food allowances; and (4) the low-cost food plan, used for financial planning in bankruptcy and other similar court cases

Design meal patterns that provide a specified percentage of the dietary reference standards for the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Feeding Program, and the Summer Food Service Program

Use as a basis for evaluating and modifying nutrient content of food packages for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program

Compare nutrients offered at meals—means, medians, and distributions—with program regulations

Compare nutrient intakes—mean, median, and distributions of intake—with dietary reference standards to identify population subgroups for possible intervention with food assistance, fortification, and education

Compare nutrient intakes—mean, median, and distributions of intake—with dietary reference standards, by program participation; estimate program effects and estimate the percentage, by program participation status, at risk of inadequate intake

Compare individual nutrient intake with dietary reference standards to assess whether an individual is at nutritional risk on the basis of an inadequate diet

Determine whether dietary reference standards need to be adjusted for field conditions (peacetime, peacetime overseas, conflict, war)

Compare nutrient intakes with dietary reference standards to evaluate the ability of the military meal planning to meet nutritional standards

Use dietary reference standards as a basis for planning meals for the military and use of fortified foods, supplements, special food products