Cognitive Strategies for Reporting Portion Sizes Using Dietary Recall Procedures
Section snippets
Methods
Six highly trained interviewers conducted one-on-one interviews with 76 study participants in 3 states: Tennessee, Kansas, and Missouri. All procedures described in this section were pretested before the study began.
Results
Respondents used various strategies to help them recall amounts eaten (Table 2), for example, known amounts (purchased or measured), estimation based on known amounts (eg, half of a 6-oz bag), visualization (mentally visualizing the volume or container and estimating its size or volume without using an aid), visualization and comparison to aids (the strategy used most frequently), and visualization of action (eg, acting out the number of spoonfuls they had put on their plate). These strategies
Discussion
In this study people clearly used aids as a comparison tool. Aids are most useful when they help people organize and recall what has been stored in memory.
Study participants were best able to use aids that could be visualized as similar to the actual portions or containers of foods eaten. This finding parallels data for snack foods and beverages reported by Chambers et al (21). In that study, more than 50% of respondents indicated that they chose an aid based on its similarity in size/amount or
Applications/Conclusions
In dietary recall studies, researchers must understand memory structure and assist respondents in remembering food consumption. Consumers need help in using landmarks (eg, portion-size aids) to help in specific tasks of remembering. Aids help in formulating memory recall and help set boundaries (eg, visualization and comparison); that is, they help people structure their recall in a form that allows them to provide meaningful data to researchers.
■ To obtain the best data from dietary recalls,
References (24)
- et al.
Multimethod training increases portion-size estimation accuracy
J Am Diet Assoc.
(1997) - et al.
Validity of portion-size measurement aidsa review
J Am Diet Assoc.
(1997) - et al.
“How do you remember you ate…?”a Delphi technique study to identify retrieval categories from fourth-grade children
J Am Diet Assoc.
(1997) - et al.
Validation of two-dimensional models for estimation of portion size in nutrition research
J Am Diet Assoc.
(1992) - et al.
Comparability of four methods for estimation of portion sizes during a food frequency interview with caregivers of young children
J Am Diet Assoc.
(1994) - et al.
Research priorities and recommendations for dietary assessment methodology
Am J Clin Nutr.
(1994) - et al.
A cognitive model of children's reporting of food intake
Am J Clin Nutr.
(1994) - et al.
Subject's Ability to Estimate Portions of Beverages
(1988) Cognitive Processes in Long-Term Dietary Recall
(1991)Food models, photographs, or household measures?
Proc Nutr Soc Aust.
(1982)
Using graduated food models in taking dietary histories
J Am Diet Assoc.
Assessment of the validity of four food models
J Can Diet Assoc.
Cited by (73)
Considerations for a protein-focused screening instrument in clinical nutrition assessment
2023, Clinical Nutrition ESPENOverview of dietary assessment methods for measuring intakes of foods, beverages, and dietary supplements in research studies
2021, Current Opinion in BiotechnologyCitation Excerpt :Differential ability to assess and recall portion sizes (necessary skill for most dietary assessment techniques) can introduce additional sources of person specific bias that is unpredictable, but may be related to factors like age or gender [50]. Individuals employ various strategies to recall portions sizes including visualization, estimations, and the use of measurement aides (e.g. food models) [51,52]. Research indicates subject training yields better portion estimation of some foods [53,54].
Motivations for meal and snack times: Three approaches reveal similar constructs
2018, Food Quality and PreferenceDietary assessment methodology
2017, Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of DiseasePolyfluoroalkyl substance exposure in the Mid-Ohio River Valley, 1991–2012
2017, Environmental PollutionCitation Excerpt :Because other PFAS concentrations in our study population were similar to NHANES, it is unlikely that high PFOA serum concentrations in our study are mainly due to food and dust exposures. Participants may have improperly estimated average water intake; this was mitigated by using visual aids for serving sizes (Chambers et al., 2000). We assumed constant reported water consumption in analyses; this could overestimate water consumption when participants were children (Kant and Graubard, 2010), and underestimate consumption when participants were younger adults (Kant et al., 2009).
Misreporting of Dietary Intake Affects Estimated Nutrient Intakes in Low-Income Spanish-Speaking Women
2015, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics