Food preferences and reported frequencies of food consumption as predictors of current diet in young women.
BACKGROUND
Self-reported food preferences and frequencies of food consumption have served as proxy measures of the current diet in consumer research and in nutritional epidemiology studies, respectively.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to determine whether food preferences and food-frequency scores are associated variables that are predictive of nutrient intakes.


METHODS
College-age women (n = 87) completed a 98-item food-frequency questionnaire and rated preferences for many of the same foods on a 9-point category scale. Estimated intakes of fat, fiber, and vitamin C were obtained by using 3-d food records.


RESULTS
For virtually all item pairs tested, food preferences and reported frequencies of consumption of the same foods were significantly correlated with each other. The median Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.40 (range: -0.04 to 0.62). Correlations improved when foods were aggregated into factor-based food groups. The slope of the relation between food preferences and frequency of consumption varied with food category. Both food preferences and food frequencies predicted dietary outcomes. Fat consumption was predicted equally well by either approach in a multiple regression model. Intakes of fiber and vitamin C were better predicted by food-frequency scores than by stated preferences for vegetables and fruit.


CONCLUSIONS
Reported frequencies of food consumption, the core of the food-frequency approach, were associated with food likes and dislikes. Food preferences were a predictor of dietary intakes and may provide an alternative to the food-frequency approach for dietary intake assessment.
Nutritional Sciences Program, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA. adamdrew@u.washington.edu
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Drewnowski
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Hann
D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid