Web-based Food Research Articles

Creation and validation of web-based food allergy audiovisual educational materials for caregivers

Studies reveal deficits in caregivers' ability to prevent and treat food-allergic reactions with epinephrine and a consumer preference for validated educational materials in audiovisual formats. This study was designed to create brief, validated educational videos on food allergen avoidance and emergency management of anaphylaxis for caregivers of children with food allergy. The study used a stepwise iterative process including creation of a needs assessment survey consisting of 25 queries administered to caregivers and food allergy experts to identify curriculum content. Preliminary videos were drafted, reviewed, and revised based on knowledge and satisfaction surveys given to another cohort of caregivers and health care professionals. The final materials were tested for validation of their educational impact and user satisfaction using pre- and postknowledge tests and satisfaction surveys administered to a convenience sample of 50 caretakers who had not participated in the development stages. The needs assessment identified topics of importance including treatment of allergic reactions and food allergen avoidance. Caregivers in the final validation included mothers (76%), fathers (22%), and other caregivers (2%). Race/ethnicity were white (66%), black (12%), Asian (12%), Hispanic (8%), and other (2%). Knowledge tests (maximum score = 18) increased from a mean score of 12.4 preprogram to 16.7 postprogram (p < 0.0001). On a 7-point Likert scale, all satisfaction categories remained above a favorable mean score of 6, indicating participants were overall very satisfied, learned a lot, and found the materials to be informative, straightforward, helpful, and interesting. This web-based audiovisual curriculum on food allergy improved knowledge scores and was well received.

Relative Validity of Micronutrient and Fiber Intake Assessed With Two New Interactive Meal- and Web-Based Food Frequency Questionnaires

BackgroundThe meal- and Web-based food frequency questionnaires, Meal-Q and MiniMeal-Q, were developed for cost-efficient assessment of dietary intake in epidemiological studies.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the relative validity of micronutrient and fiber intake assessed with Meal-Q and MiniMeal-Q. The reproducibility of Meal-Q was also evaluated.MethodsA total of 163 volunteer men and women aged between 20 and 63 years were recruited from Stockholm County, Sweden. Assessment of micronutrient and fiber intake with the 174-item Meal-Q was compared to a Web-based 7-day weighed food record (WFR). Two administered Meal-Q questionnaires were compared for reproducibility. The 126-item MiniMeal-Q, developed after the validation study, was evaluated in a simulated validation by using truncated Meal-Q data.ResultsThe study population consisted of approximately 80% women (129/163) with a mean age of 33 years (SD 12) who were highly educated (130/163, 80% with >12 years of education) on average. Cross-classification of quartiles with the WFR placed 69% to 90% in the same/adjacent quartile for Meal-Q and 67% to 89% for MiniMeal-Q. Bland-Altman plots with the WFR and the questionnaires showed large variances and a trend of increasing underestimation with increasing intakes. Deattenuated and energy-adjusted Spearman rank correlations between the questionnaires and the WFR were in the range ρ=.25-.69, excluding sodium that was not statistically significant. Cross-classifications of quartiles of the 2 Meal-Q administrations placed 86% to 97% in the same/adjacent quartile. Intraclass correlation coefficients for energy-adjusted intakes were in the range of .50-.76.ConclusionsWith the exception of sodium, this validation study demonstrates Meal-Q and MiniMeal-Q to be useful methods for ranking micronutrient and fiber intake in epidemiological studies with Web-based data collection.

Socioeconomic differences in selected dietary habits among Norwegian 13–14 year-olds: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundSocial inequalities in health are a major and even growing problem in all European countries.ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to describe 1) differences in dietary habits among Norwegian adolescents by gender and socioeconomic status; 2) differences in self-reported knowledge of dietary guidelines among their parents according to socioeconomic status.DesignIn 2012, a cross-sectional study where students filled in a web-based food frequency questionnaire at school was conducted in nine lower secondary schools in Vest-Agder County, Norway. Socioeconomic status (SES) and knowledge of dietary guidelines were obtained from the parents using a web-based questionnaire. In total, 517 ninth-grade students (mean age 13.9) out of 742 invited students participated in the study, giving a participation rate of 69.7%. The total number of dyads with information on both parents and students was 308 (41.5%).ResultsThe findings indicate that there is a tendency for girls to have a healthier diet than boys, with greater intake of fruits and vegetables (girls intake in median 3.5 units per day and boys 2.9 units per day), and lower intake of soft drinks (girls 0.25 l in median versus boys 0.5 l per week). Students from families with higher SES reported a significant higher intake of vegetables and fish, and lower intake of soft drinks and fast food than those from lower SES. Parents with higher SES reported a significantly better knowledge of dietary guidelines compared to those with lower SES.ConclusionsDifferences in dietary habits were found between groups of students by gender and SES. Differences were also found in parents’ self-reported knowledge of dietary guidelines. This social patterning should be recognized in public health interventions.

Short sleep duration and large variability in sleep duration are independently associated with dietary risk factors for obesity in Danish school children

Lack of sleep and increased consumption of energy-dense foods and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have all been suggested as factors contributing to the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity. To evaluate whether objectively measured sleep duration (average and day-to-day variability) as well as parent-reported sleep problems are independently associated with proposed dietary risk factors for overweight and obesity in 8-11-year-old children. In this cross-sectional study, data on sleep duration and day-to-day variability in sleep duration were measured in 676 Danish, apparently healthy children by an objective measure (actigraphy) for 8 nights, and the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) was filled out by the parents. Diet was recorded using a web-based food record for 7 consecutive days. Fasting blood samples were obtained for measurements of plasma leptin and ghrelin levels. Sleep duration (h per night) was negatively associated with energy density (ED) of the diet (β = -0.32 kJ g(-1)), added sugar (β = -1.50 E%) and SSBs (β = -1.07 E%) (all P ≤ 0.003). Furthermore, variability in sleep duration (10-min per night) was positively associated with SSBs (β = 0.20 E%, P = 0.03), independent of sleep duration, and CSHQ score was positively associated with ED (β = 0.16 kJ g(-1), P = 0.04). All of these associations were independent of potential confounders (age, sex, pubertal status, height, weight, screen time, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and parental education and ethnicity). Our study suggests that short sleep duration, high sleep duration variability and experiencing sleep problems are all associated with a poor, obesity-promoting diet in children.

Using a Monthly Calendar to Promote Food, Nutrition, and Health Themes

The purpose of creating a monthly, web-based food, nutrition, and health themed calendar was to provide information about and reinforce healthy behaviors to consumers and multiplier groups working with consumers. The general adult population, educators, and health professionals. Similar to MyPlate, which was “designed to remind Americans to eat healthfully,” and “not intended to change consumer behavior alone,” the themed calendar utilized the same rationale to also “help consumers make better choices.” The calendar provides resources, tips, and recipes for selected national food and health themed days, weeks, and months. A calendar approach helped optimize the use of social media and search engines in promoting content, leading to visits and links to our organization’s website. According to Google analytics, the calendar received over 45,875 pageviews, a 17% increase over the previous year. It has been linked 493 times from 186 websites, including other universities, blogs, and social media sites. The calendar was listed in the top 3 recommended webpages by search engines. A web feedback form indicated the helpfulness of this monthly content curation; a sample comment was, “Having all this information in one place makes it easy when looking for something specific like pumpkin. Gave me lots of ideas!” The calendar multiplies our efforts by assisting others find research-based, unbiased information and is a “go to” resource for the public, educators, and health professionals. It has helped us move from “good to great;” statistics show increased visits to our website as people have become more aware of our calendar.

Two New Meal- and Web-Based Interactive Food Frequency Questionnaires: Validation of Energy and Macronutrient Intake

BackgroundMeal-Q and its shorter version, MiniMeal-Q, are 2 new Web-based food frequency questionnaires. Their meal-based and interactive format was designed to promote ease of use and to minimize answering time, desirable improvements in large epidemiological studies.ObjectiveWe evaluated the validity of energy and macronutrient intake assessed with Meal-Q and MiniMeal-Q as well as the reproducibility of Meal-Q.MethodsHealthy volunteers aged 20-63 years recruited from Stockholm County filled out the 174-item Meal-Q. The questionnaire was compared to 7-day weighed food records (WFR; n=163), for energy and macronutrient intake, and to doubly labeled water (DLW; n=39), for total energy expenditure. In addition, the 126-item MiniMeal-Q was evaluated in a simulated validation using truncated Meal-Q data. We also assessed the answering time and ease of use of both questionnaires.ResultsBland-Altman plots showed a varying bias within the intake range for all validity comparisons. Cross-classification of quartiles placed 70%-86% in the same/adjacent quartile with WFR and 77% with DLW. Deattenuated and energy-adjusted Pearson correlation coefficients with the WFR ranged from r=0.33-0.74 for macronutrients and was r=0.18 for energy. Correlations with DLW were r=0.42 for Meal-Q and r=0.38 for MiniMeal-Q. Intraclass correlations for Meal-Q ranged from r=0.57-0.90. Median answering time was 17 minutes for Meal-Q and 7 minutes for MiniMeal-Q, and participants rated both questionnaires as easy to use.ConclusionsMeal-Q and MiniMeal-Q are easy to use and have short answering times. The ranking agreement is good for most of the nutrients for both questionnaires and Meal-Q shows fair reproducibility.

Dairy intake and obesity risk among teens

Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of a lifetime of obesity &amp; disability in adulthood. Evidence suggests that dairy at recommended levels could be beneficial in weight maintenance. Our aim was to determine if dairy consumption is associated with obesity risk among teens. We conducted a cross‐sectional study among 255 teens (120 males, 135 females) ages 12– 18 years who reported their food intake through a web‐based food frequency questionnaire. Trained dietitians measured anthropometrics. Association between dairy intake—total dairy, cheese, milk, and dairy desserts—on obesity indices (BMI, waist‐to‐ hip ratio [W/H]) for all teens, and body composition (fat mass [FM], fat‐free mass [FFM]) for gender groups, were determined by ANOVA. Groups by dairy intake categories (zero, low, medium, and high) have similar ages. Dairy intake was not associated with BMI. Intakes of total dairy, milk, and cheese were positively associated with W/H (p‐trend for all &lt; .01); high intake was significantly different from medium/low intake (total dairy, 0.81 vs. 0.77; milk, 0.82 vs. 0.78; cheese, 0.81 vs. 0.78). FFM of females was 39.3 kg for high vs. 41.9 kg for low intake (p&lt;.05) while W/H increased with increasing total dairy and milk intake for males (p&lt;.05) but not for females. We conclude that dairy has a neutral effect on BMI but high intake (3+ svgs/d) may potentially increase central adiposity particularly for males

Regular soy intake supports normal growth of teens and has no effect on risk of obesity

Soy intake is associated with reduced chronic disease risk. Obesity and overweight during adolescence can affect lifelong health; however, research on the impact of soy intake in growth and development of teens is limited. Our aim is to determine if regular soy intake affects adolescent growth and the odds of becoming overweight or obese. We conducted a cross sectional study among 300 adolescents (158 females, 142 males) ages 12–18 years attending Seventh‐day Adventist schools in Southern California. Soy consumption was assessed with a web‐based food frequency questionnaire. Weight and height were measured at the school. Association between soy intake and gender‐ and age‐specific height and BMI z‐ scores were estimated with linear regression and odds of overweight/obesity with logistic regression. Average total soy intake was 1.2 (SD=1.2) servings per day, mostly coming from meat alternatives (0.5±0.6 svg/d), tofu (0.3±0.5 svg/d), and soy beverages (0.3±0.5 svg/d). Total soy intake was not significantly associated with height (B= −.043 [−.047, .132], p=.348) and BMI (B= −.033 [−.135, .069], p=.520), neither were meat alternatives, tofu, and soy beverages. Total soy consumption does not affect the odds of being overweight/obese (OR: 1.02 [0.87, 1.20], p=.789). We conclude that in this population, soy intake has a neutral effect on growth and the odds of being overweight/obese. Funded by WhiteWave Foods

Can a web‐based food record accurately assess energy intake in overweight and obese women? A pilot study

Innovative dietary intake measurement tools, such as web-based food records, are becoming increasingly available for self-monitoring. However, the accuracy of this method has not been well studied. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of energy intake (EI) estimated by a web-based food record, by comparison with total energy expenditure (TEE) measured by doubly-labelled water (DLW) in overweight and obese women. Total energy expenditure (TEE) was assessed in weight stable (±1 kg) women (n = 9), with a mean (SD) age of 34.5 (11.3) years and body mass index of 29.2 (1.4) kg m(-2) over 10 days using the DLW technique. All food and beverages were self-reported for 9-days using a web-based food record and mean daily EI calculated. Food record accuracy was assessed by calculating the absolute (EI - TEE) and percentage (EI/TEE × 100) differences between EI and TEE. Women were identified as under-reporters of EI based on the 95% confidence limits of the expected EI : TEE of 1. The mean (SD) self-reported EI was 8351 (1225) kJ day(-1) [1996 (293) kcal day(-1) ] and TEE was 10 648 (1774) kJ day(-1) [2545 (424) kcal day(-1) ]. The mean (SD) absolute difference in self-reported EI and TEE was -2301 (1535) kJ day(-1) [-550 (367) kcal day(-1) ], representing a mean reporting accuracy of 79.6% (14.1%), with four participants under-reporting EI. This pilot study highlights the opportunity for the use of the Internet as a novel medium for recording and assessing dietary intake. Although further research is needed in more diverse population groups, the accuracy of web-based food records for assessing EI appears to be consistent with other published dietary intake methods.

Associations among evening snacking, screen time, weight status, and overall diet quality in young adolescents

The purpose of this study was to determine the associations among evening snacking (food choices, portion sizes), afterschool-evening screen time, overall diet quality, and weight status. Participants consisted of 1008 young adolescents (secondary analyses, n = 651) from schools in Windsor-Essex, Ontario. The Web-based Food Behaviour Questionnaire, including a 24-h diet recall, was used to assess eating and screen time behaviours (television and video and computer games), as well as nutrient intake; height and weight for BMI were measured using a stadiometer. Results indicated that the majority of participants (62%) consumed an evening snack that contributed approximately 11% of their daily caloric intake. Evening snacking was associated with an overall good diet quality compared with that of non-evening snackers (p < 0.001). Increased afterschool-evening screen time was associated with fewer evening snack servings of vegetables and fruit (p < 0.05) and an overall increase in evening snack food portion sizes (p < 0.001). After accounting for other evening snacking factors, participants with greater than 6 h of afterschool-evening screen time were less likely to have a good overall diet quality compared with those with less than 1 h of afterschool-evening screen time. Therefore, increased screen time, because it is associated with greater evening snack portion sizes and overall poor diet quality, is of great concern regarding young adolescents' evening behaviour.

A Qualitative Analysis of Coronary Heart Disease Patient Views of Dietary Adherence and Web-Based and Mobile-Based Nutrition Tools

Dietary adherence can be challenging for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), as they may require multiple dietary changes. Choosing appropriate food items may be difficult or take extensive amounts of time without the aid of technology. The objective of this project was to (1) examine the dietary challenges faced by patients with CHD, (2) examine methods of coping with dietary challenges, (3) explore the feasibility of a Web-based food decision support system, and (4) explore the feasibility of a mobile-based food decision support system. Food for the Heart (FFH), a Web site-based food decision support system, and Mobile Magic Lens (MML), a mobile-based system, were developed to aid in daily dietary choices. Three CHD patient focus groups were conducted and focused on CHD-associated dietary changes as well as the FFH and MML prototypes. A total of 20 CHD patients and 7 informal caregivers participated. Qualitative, content analysis was performed to find themes grounded in the responses. Five predominant themes emerged: (1) decreasing carbohydrate intake and portion control are common dietary challenges, (2) clinician and social support makes dietary adherence easier, (3) FFH could make meal-planning and dietary adherence less complicated, (4) MML could save time and assist with healthy choices, and (5) additional features need to be added to make both tools more comprehensive. Food for the Heart and MML may be tools that CHD patients would value in making food choices and adhering to dietary recommendations, especially if additional features are added to assist patients with changes.

Variations in Quality of Life Among Caregivers of Food Allergic Children

EE Springston, B Smith, J Shulruff. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2010;105(4):287–294 To better understand the relationship between pediatric food allergy and caregiver quality of life. Caregivers of food-allergic children were recruited through targeted Web pages on food-allergy resource and social media sites to complete an anonymous Web-based Food Allergy Quality of Life-Parental Burden (FAQL-PB) questionnaire. Caregivers completed the validated FAQL-PB questionnaire to measure the effect of food allergy on caregiver health-related quality of …

The association between weight loss and engagement with a web-based food and exercise diary in a commercial weight loss programme: a retrospective analysis.

BackgroundThe Internet provides a widely accessible platform for weight loss interventions. Automated tools can allow self-guided monitoring of food intake and other target behaviours that are established correlates of weight change. Many programmes also offer social support from the virtual community. The aim of this research was to assess associations between engagement with self-monitoring tools and social support, and weight loss in an online weight-control programme.MethodsThis paper describes a retrospective analysis of weight change among 3621 subscribers to a commercial Internet-based weight loss programme. Participants were all subscribers (2979 women; 642 men) joining the programme between July 2005 and November 2008 with two or more recorded weights spanning at least 28 days of participation in the programme. Engagement was indexed with frequency of using online diet and exercise diaries and with use of the social support forums.ResultsProgramme engagement was associated with weight loss in both men and women after controlling for initial BMI and duration of participation. The three engagement variables accounted for 13% of variance in percentage weight loss in women (p < .001) and 19% in men (p < .001). In analyses including all the engagement variables, exercise diary use was an independent predictor of weight loss among men, but non-significant in women. In contrast, use of the online forums was associated with weight loss in women but not in men. Among participants who were overweight or obese, those in the highest tertile of engagement with food diaries (vs the lowest) were more likely to achieve clinically significant (> 5%) weight loss (men: OR = 3.45 p < .001; women: OR = 5.05 p < .001). Being in the highest tertile of engagement with exercise diaries was associated with clinically significant weight loss in men (OR = 3.48 p < .001) and, less strongly, in women (OR = 1.46 p < .05).ConclusionsUse of self-monitoring tools and participation in online support are predictive of weight loss in the context of a commercial, online weight control programme.

Associations between diet quality and physical activity measures among a southern Ontario regional sample of grade 6 students

The purpose of this study was to determine diet quality and physical activity behaviours of grade 6 students by sex and body weight status, and to determine the associations between diet quality and physical activity behaviours. The Web-based Food Behaviour Questionnaire, which included a 24-h diet recall and the modified Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C), was administered to a cross-section of schools (n = 405 students from 15 schools). Measured height and weight were used to calculate body mass index and weight status (Cole et al. 2000). A Canadian version of the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-C) was used to describe overall diet quality. The mean HEI-C was 69.6 (13.2) with the majority (72%) falling into the needs improvement category. The overall mean physical activity score was 3.7 out of a maximum of 5, with obese subjects being less active compared with normal weight and overweight (p< 0.001). Ordinal logistic regression analysis (of HEI-C vs. all measures of the PAQ-C, sex, and weight status) revealed that HEI-C ratings were likely to be higher in students that walked to and from school 5days per week (vs. 0days per week; odds ratio 3.18, p = 0.010); and were active 1 evening per week (vs. none; odds ratio 3.48, p = 0.039). The positive association between diet quality and some aspects of physical activity suggests possible clustering of health behaviours. Future research should test the potential benefits of promoting 1 health behaviour (e.g., healthy eating) with another (e.g., physical activity).

Web-based Food Behaviour Questionnaire: Validation with Grades Six to Eight Students

The web-based Food Behaviour Questionnaire (FBQ) includes a 24-hour diet recall, a food frequency questionnaire, and questions addressing knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and food-related behaviours. The survey has been revised since it was developed and initially validated. The current study was designed to obtain qualitative feedback and to validate the FBQ diet recall. "Think aloud" techniques were used in cognitive interviews with dietitian experts (n=11) and grade six students (n=21). Multi-ethnic students (n=201) in grades six to eight at urban southern Ontario schools completed the FBQ and, subsequently, one-on-one diet recall interviews with trained dietitians. Food group and nutrient intakes were compared. Users provided positive feedback on the FBQ. Suggestions included adding more foods, more photos for portion estimation, and online student feedback. Energy and nutrient intakes were positively correlated between FBQ and dietitian interviews, overall and by gender and grade (all p<0.001). Intraclass correlation coefficients were ≥0.5 for energy and macro-nutrients, although the web-based survey underestimated energy (10.5%) and carbohydrate (-15.6%) intakes (p<0.05). Under-estimation of rice and pasta portions on the web accounted for 50% of this discrepancy. The FBQ is valid, relative to 24-hour recall interviews, for dietary assessment in diverse populations of Ontario children in grades six to eight.

A Smorgasbord of Web-Based Food History and Culinary Resources

A Smorgasbord of Web-Based Food History and Culinary Resources

Beyond Television: Children's Engagement with Online Food and Beverage Marketing

Background Food and beverage marketing has been implicated in the childhood obesity “pandemic.” Prior studies have established the negative impact of television advertising on children's dietary intake, yet few have considered the role of online food and beverage marketing, particularly within the Canadian context. Objective This study explores children's engagement in online marketing and investigates the potential impact on their dietary intake. Methods Participants were recruited from the Ryerson University Summer Day Camp to participate in a single one-on-one semi-structured interview. Results A total of 83 children (age 7 to 13 years; mean 9.99 years; 56.3% boys, 43.8% girls) participated in the study. Fewer children thought that there is food, drink, or candy advertising on the internet (67.7%) than on television (98.8%) (p &gt; 0.001). Awareness of online marketing increased with age: 7 to 8 year olds (23.67%; 4), 9 to 10 years (63.89%; 23), 11 to 12 years (86.96%; 20); 13 years (100%; 9). Over one-third of children had visited a website after seeing the address advertised on television (n = 32; 38.55%) or on product package (n = 29; 34.94%). Conclusions Branded internet sites, commonly featured on television and product packaging, offer new opportunities for marketers to reach children with messages promoting commercial food and beverage items. These websites are subsequently spread via word-of-mouth through children's peer networks. The independent impact of web-based food, drink and candy marketing, as well as the synergistic effect of multi-channel product promotion, on children's dietary intake merits further investigation.

Validity and Reproducibility of an Adolescent Web-Based Food Frequency Questionnaire

Objective To assess the validity and reproducibility of a newly developed, cost-effective, and easy to administer, Web-based food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for the dietary assessment of adolescents. Design Cross-sectional validation of a Web-based FFQ, which contained 15 food groups (water; soft drinks, including fruit juice and diet soft drinks; alcoholic beverages; soup; milk and milk products; fruit; sweet and savory snacks/fillings; sauces and fat spreads; breakfast cereals; bread; cheese, fish/eggs/meat; pasta/rice; vegetables; and potatoes). Reference data for validation were 3-day estimated food records. Analyses were done for all participants and for consumers only (consumer in both Web-based FFQ and food record). Subjects/Setting A selected group of adolescents (12 to 18 years of age, n=104) from participating secondary schools in Ghent, Belgium. Results For all participants, the measured intakes of water, fruit, breakfast cereals, fish/eggs/meat, pasta/rice, and potatoes were not significantly different between the two methods. The Spearman correlation for all foods was on average 0.38 (ranging from 0.20 for pasta/rice to 0.64 for breakfast cereals). When analyzed for consumers only, the Web-based FFQ showed significantly lower estimates for soft drinks, sweet and savory snacks/fillings, sauces and fat spreads, cheese, pasta/rice, and vegetables. The average Spearman correlation for all foods collectively was 0.30. When reproducibility of the Web-based FFQ was assessed, the average Spearman correlation coefficient for all foods collectively was 0.62. Conclusions Most questions on the 15 food groups had acceptable reproducibility, whereas validation only showed reliable intakes for water, fruit, bread, and fish/eggs/meat. This Web-based FFQ could be a start for development of dietary assessment methods in public health nutrition contexts.

Effects of a Web-based Food Portion Training Program on Food Portion Estimation

Objective Assess the effects of a prototype computerized food portion tutorial (CFPT). Design Participants were randomly assigned to estimate portion sizes for selected food items either prior to or following CFPT training (between groups), and those estimating before CFPT training re-estimated portions after training (within groups). Setting Research offices. Participants Seventy-six adult participants without dietary restrictions. Intervention The CFPT is a Web-based food portion training program that displays varied portions of 23 food items with user-controllable reference objects and viewing angles. Main Outcome Measures Estimated vs. weighed portions of food items selected for a meal. Analysis Nonparametric tests were performed on estimated vs. weighed portion differences and on accuracy ratios between and within groups. Results A significant difference was found between conditions, both within and between groups, on the discrepancy between estimated and weighed portions for a number of the food items. Training exposure, however, resulted primarily in a shift from underestimation to overestimation, not more accurate estimation. Implications for Research and Practice The CFPT produced a significant impact on food portion estimation but appeared to sensitize participants to underestimation errors, leading to overestimation errors. Computerization of food portion training programs holds promise for providing cost-efficient portion estimation training but requires further development and evaluation before being considered for clinical use.

Food Science Education Publications and Websites

Food Science Education Publications and Websites