Development of a Food Frequency Questionnaire: For Toddlers of Low-German-Speaking Mennonites from Mexico

Abstract

Little is known about dietary intakes in toddlers of Low-German-Speaking Mennonites from Mexico, although some of these toddlers might be at risk for nutritional deficiencies. A 97-item, culturally sensitive, interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was developed and validated for health professionals to assess dietary intake in these children aged 12 to 36 months. Cultural foods on the FFQ were determined via focus groups; a pilot study tested content and formatting. The FFQ was administered to parents/caregivers of 22 toddlers in a southern Ontario community of Low-German-Speaking Mennonites from Mexico. Validity was determined by comparing nutrient intakes from the FFQ and from the 24-hour recalls, using Bland-Altman plots, Pearson correlations, and Student's t-tests. Test-retest reliability was compared between two FFQ administrations (n=14) one month apart, via intraclass correlations (ICCs). Bland-Altman plots showed good agreement between the FFQ and the 24-hour recall; Pearson correlations between methods were significant for protein, folate, calcium, and caffeine. Student's t-tests were not significantly different between methods for 11 of 12 nutrients. Test-retest reliability was good on the basis of acceptable ICC for eight of 12 nutrients. The prevalence of nutrient inadequacies was low, except for folate. These results are promising for implementation of a simple, quick, culturally sensitive FFQ with the potential to provide reliable estimates of mean intakes in toddlers of Low-German-Speaking Mennonites from Mexico.