Quantifying portion sizes for selected snack foods and beverages in 24-hour dietary recalls

The purpose of this study was to determine individual recall accuracy for s elected snack foods and beverages using various measurement aids and to inv estigate the cognitive strategies associated with aid selection for snacks and beverages in a 24-hour recall. Individuals (n=202) estimated the amount s of snack foods and beverages consumed the previous day while watching a 3 0-minute videotaped television program. Individuals were provided ad libitu m amounts of snacks (potato chips, tortilla chips, or popcorn alone or with salsa or mixed nuts) in various sizes bags and or bowls. Beverages were pr ovided with snacks in either standard 20 oz bottles or 8, 10, or 16 oz glas ses. During consumption estimation, a variety of aids including aids used i n previous National Health and Nutrition Examination Studies (NHANES) were provided. Average recall errors, by weight, for each of the 10 snack/contai ner groups were within 16 g with percentage recall errors for these groups ranging from -36.8 to +38.7%. Bowls were selected to estimate consumption a t least eight times more than any other aid and provided an accurate averag e recall estimation. Beverage consumption was consistently overestimated. R espondent confidence in estimation accuracy did not correlate with actual e rror for either snacks or beverages. Results suggest that average recall er rors for groups consuming snacks are likely to be within one-half of a stan dard portion size and that bowls provide a means by which individuals can a ccurately estimate snack consumption in a 24-hour recall. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.