“…Energy and protein intakes were similarly reduced below the RDA (WHO/ FAO, 1985). The 'on-the-plate' nutrient energy provided (1142 kcal, Table 3), although low by UK standards, is nevertheless close to the calorie requirement of females in the 75-85 age range as estimated by the USA HANES report and by other attempts to quantify energy intake in the elderly female population (Heber & Bray, 1980;Swan, 1983). The mean actual intake of nutrients by a group of thirty patients (748 kcals, 29 g protein, 11 mg ascorbic acid- Table 3) is substantially lower than figures previously quoted both for the hospitalized non-elderly (2016 kcals, 68 g protein- Levine et al, 1987) and for the non-hospitalized elderly (1636 kcals, 56 g protein, 39 mg ascorbic acid-Department of Health and Social Security 1979a) but it may be noted that the earlier studies did not include corrections for plate wastage.…”