Mixed
Seven-day estimated-diet records or open-ended food diaries provide individual nutrient intake values most closely associated with 16 days of weighed records, showing no significant differences in average intakes, whereas food-frequency questionnaires are not appreciably better than 24-hour recalls for ranking individuals.
If you need to know your exact nutrient intake for health reasons, a 7-day estimated record or open-ended food diary is far superior to a food-frequency questionnaire or a single 24-hour recall. While food-frequency questionnaires are popular for large studies, they fail to accurately rank individuals' habitual diets. For personal accuracy, spend one week meticulously recording what you eat, using portion size estimates or photos if possible, as this correlates closely with the gold standard of weighed records.
With a 7 d estimated record or open-ended food diary, however, individual values of nutrients were most closely associated with those obtained from 16 d weighed records, and there were no significant differences in average food or nutrient intakes. Comparisons between the average of the 16 d weighed records and the first presentation of each method indicated that food-frequency questionnaires were not appreciably better at placing individuals in the distribution of habitual diet than 24 h recalls, due partly to inaccuracies in the estimation of frequency of food consumption.
Why this rating
The study uses a robust within-subject design comparing multiple methods against a 16-day weighed record baseline over a year, though it is a single cohort study.
Source
Comparison of dietary assessment methods in nutritional epidemiology: weighed records <i>v</i>. 24 h recalls, food-frequency questionnaires and estimated-diet records
Sheila Bingham et al. · British Journal Of Nutrition · 1994
DOI 10.1079/bjn19940064
Related findings · Mixed
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