Technical Abstract: The association between dietary intakes and metabolic syndrome risk variables was examined in 1,181 young adults (ages 19-38 years; 25 percent African Americans and 62 percent females) in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Dietary intakes were assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. A composite score for risk variables was generated using principal component analysis which included body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. All risk variables loaded on a single factor, which explained 46.7 percent of the total variance. Using this composite score as the outcome variable, we performed linear regression analysis. Meat and sweetened beverages showed significant positive association with the outcome variable, but these associations disappeared after controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, smoking status, physical activity out of work and family histories of diabetes and heart attacks. Intakes of alcohol, fruit, juice, and vegetables were negatively associated with the outcome variable, even after controlling for covariates (p<0.05). Longitudinal research is necessary to provide stronger etiological evidence for these relationships.