A Systematic Review of Dietary Assessment Tools for Children Age 11 Years and Younger

Abstract

Dietary assessment tools are useful in nutritional epidemiology for identifying dietary patterns in both children and adults. Most commonly, dietary assessment methods include 24-hour recalls, food frequency questionnaires (FFQs), and food records. Despite the general acceptability of these methods, their accuracy and appropriateness for children have largely been underexamined. The purpose of this review was to identify the most appropriate dietary assessment methods for children age 11 years and younger by evaluating the existing evidence in relation to the validity and reliability of dietary assessment tools used in this population. This review consists of a systematic search of 3 electronic databases. In total, 9 studies with a sum of 735 participants were included in the review: 3 studies assessed the validity of 24-hour recalls; 5 assessed the validity of FFQs; and 1 assessed the validity of food record. The findings suggest that a FFQ may be the best method for assessing dietary intake in children between 9 months and 11 years of age. Further research is needed on the validity and reliability of these conventional dietary assessment methods used in young children.