The food selection and nutrient intake were investigated in women with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and controls. Methods Dietary data was obtained by 24-hour recall, and 7-day recording among eating disordered patients, and by 3-day registration among controls. Results: The intake of energy and nutrients differed from controls, as expected, while there were no differences between anorectics and bulimics in this respect, except for iron. There were only minor differences among the three groups studied with respect to nutrient density. Energy percentages of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, were similar in all groups, but a subdivision of the macronutrients into respective sources showed that bulimics had a lower relative and absolute intake of carbohydrates from bread and cereals than anorectics and controls. Conclusion: Eating disorder patients, despite their marginal food intake, still met the minimum requirement for most nutrients according to the Nordic Nutrient recommendations. Abbreviations: AN = anorexia nervosa, AN/BN = anorectic bulimics, BMI = body mass index, BN = bulimia nervosa, DSM-III-R = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, ED = eating disorder, NNR = Nordic Nutrient Recommendation