Logged on and plugged in: Diet assessment for a new generation

Abstract

Objective: This study compared traditional diet assessment techniques; food records and 24‐hour recalls (24 HR), with current technologies; e‐mail food records and instant messaging (IM) 24 HR. Today's freshmen grew up surrounded by technologies that enable instantaneous communications. Use of these technologies may provide similar or superior assessment and reduce respondent and researcher burden.Methods: Three days of dietary intake (2 weekdays, 1 weekend) were collected from freshman females (n=23) in 4 groups; 1) paper food record, 2) e‐mail food record, 3) phone 24 HR, 4) IM 24 HR. NDSR was used for analysis. Mean energy and macronutrient intake was compared across all groups and by traditional vs. new technologies. Time spent and overall retention rates were compared.Results: Mean energy intake was similar for all methods (2051 – 2129 kcal) except IM recalls (1696 kcal). IM recall subjects reported significantly lower % kcals from fat (p <0.01). All methods had full retention except for paper food records (n = 5). Mean IM 24 HR took longer than mean phone 24 HR (27 min vs. 15 min).Conclusion: Using new technologies may reduce reporting bias by providing an immediate, more comfortable environment. IM 24 HR were less efficacious than traditional methods, but potential for improvement exists. E‐mail food records were superior in clarity, time, and retention rates than paper records.