title: Validation of visual estimation of portion size consumed as a method for estimating food intake by young Indian children.
abstract: In this observational study, estimation of food intake was evaluated using recording of portion size consumed, instead of post-weighing, as a method. In total, 930 feeding episodes were observed among 128 children aged 12-24 months in which actual intake was available by pre- and post-weighing. For each offering and feeding episode, portion size consumed was recorded by an independent nutritionist-as none, less than half, half or more, and all. Using the pre-weighed offering, available intake was estimated by multiplying portion sizes by the estimated weight. The estimated mean intake was 510.4 kilojoules compared to actual intake of 510.7 kilojoules by weighing. Similar results were found with nestum (52.0 vs 56.2 g), bread (3.8 vs 3.7 g), puffed rice (1.7 vs 1.9 g), banana (31.3 vs 24.4 g), and milk (41.6 vs 44.2 mL). Recording portion size consumed and estimating food intake from that provides a good alternative to the time-consuming and often culturally-unacceptable method of post-weighing food each time after a feeding episode.
authors.affiliation: Center for Micronutrient Research, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India.
authors.forename: Pratibha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dhingra
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sazawa
authors.forename: Venugopal P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dhingra
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015588:Observer Variation; D012858:Size Perception