Portion-size estimation training in second- and third-grade American Indian children.

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Pediatric Health
• Dietary Assessment

Background:

• Accurate dietary self-reporting is crucial for nutritional assessment.
• Portion-size estimation training enhances adult dietary reporting accuracy.
• Evidence for similar benefits in children is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a portion-size estimation training session on children's food quantity estimation error.
• To determine if training effects vary by food type or measurement method.

Main Methods:

• A 45-minute hands-on training program was administered to American Indian schoolchildren.
• Control group (n=34) received no training.
• Estimation errors were measured using difference and absolute value methods pre- and post-training.

Main Results:

• Significant reduction in estimation error for 7 of 12 foods in the trained group.
• Greater error reduction observed in the trained group for 3 specific foods.
• Largest improvements noted for liquids (volume/label reading) and solid foods (cups).

Conclusions:

• A single portion-size estimation training session can improve children's food quantity estimation accuracy.
• Effectiveness varies by food type and measurement method.
• Multiple training sessions may be needed for substantial improvements in dietary reporting accuracy.