Assessment of dietary intake in American Indian children in the pathways study

One goal of the Pathways study is to reduce dietary fat and total calories through an intervention program for 3rd-5th grade children. Therefore it is important to assess the impact of the intervention on childrens' diets. Previous studies have shown that a diet-record-assisted 24 hour recall method for collecting dietary data from children is both feasible and valid in some 3rd-grade populations. We examined the validity of a modified diet-record-assisted 24 hour recall in American Indian children. The basic method involved training children to record food eaten for 24 hours, followed by individual interviews of children by trained staff using the interactive Minnesota Nutrient Data System. The modified method added training in portion size estimation. Pilot testing of the modified protocol in 2nd and 3rd-grade children indicated a potential for increased accuracy of childrens' self-reports. Data were collected from 80 3rd grade children using the modified diet-record-assisted 24 hour recall. Children were trained to estimate food portion sizes and then measured and listed all foods consumed on a diet record. Pathways staff assisted children with food measurements at school meals; parents were encouraged to assist with foods outside of school. Approximately 74% of the children completed and returned food records. Subjective evaluation of the process indicated that third grade children needed a high level of assistance in order to complete the measurement and the recording of their diets. Supported by NHLBI.