Food and Labor Costs, number of nutrients in the menu below one-third of the RDA and client participation were analyzed in fourteen Title 111 nutrition programs for the elderly. Food and labor costs were directly related with fifty percent of the facilities being under the monthly median of $2,801 and $3,862 respectively. In all sites menus were deficient in vitamin B6, folacin and zinc. Cost did not affect nutrient quality or senior citizen participation. The study suggests that several levels of monitary expenditure will equally attract individuals to the Title 111 program and provide the same menu quality as measured by nutrients meeting a percentage of the RDA.