In the rural parts of nine regencies of the province of East Java Indonesia, in the dry seasons of 1975 and 1976 extensive nutrition surveys were carried out. So designated surplus, marginal and minus areas were included. Social and hygienic features of the household were recorded. The reproductive characteristics of the mother population were noted. Anthropometric data were collected. Their diet, including consumption frequency of staple and secondary foodstuffs, was registered by interview. Of a total of 3,828 mothers of children 0--15 years old 37% were lactating and 6.7% were pregnant. Of the latter some 10% were still nursing a child. The number of live children per family was rather small (2.0--3.4) and the percent of those who had died was high (10--31%). Average height of the mothers was 149 cm and weight 42 kg. A cross-sectional calculation of weight gain during pregnancy resulted in 5.0--7.4 kg. Lactating mothers showed a higher weight-height ratio than non-lactating or pregnant. Taking 90% of the Indonesian standard of weight-for-height as cut-off point for an acceptable nutritional status, 18--24% of the nonpregnant non-lactating, 13--35% of the lactating and 33--57% of the pregnant mothers fell below that standard. Considerable and rather unexpected differences existed between regencies. Low percentages of illiteracy and highest of child survival were found in an area designated as 'minus' for per capita income and food production. Only in Sidoarjo was rice the most frequently consumed staple food. In Trenggalek (south coast) and in Sampang (Madura) it was cassava. In Blitar (south coast) it was rice, maize and cassava mixed or varying according to season. In the remaining six regions a mixture of rice and maize was the common food.