RDN Dietary Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which dietary assessment method is considered the gold standard for estimating usual dietary intake over time?
- 24-hour dietary recall
- Food frequency questionnaire
- Diet history interview
- Weighed food record (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Weighed food record
Weighed food records are considered the gold standard because they capture actual intake without relying on memory.
Question 2: A patient reports eating 'a handful of almonds' as a snack. Which tool would BEST help convert this to grams?
- MyPlate food guide
- Food model aids or portion estimation tools (Correct answer)
- Nutrient database only
- Diet history form
Correct answer: Food model aids or portion estimation tools
Portion estimation tools such as food models, measuring cups, and hand-size guides help translate vague descriptions into measurable quantities.
Question 3: The Multiple Pass Method (MPM) used in the NHANES study involves how many passes?
- 3
- 4
- 5 (Correct answer)
- 6
Correct answer: 5
The USDA's Automated Multiple Pass Method uses 5 steps to capture a complete and accurate 24-hour dietary recall.
Question 4: Which type of assessment error occurs when a respondent systematically under-reports intake due to social desirability?
- Random measurement error
- Systematic bias (Correct answer)
- Regression dilution
- Attenuation bias
Correct answer: Systematic bias
Systematic bias occurs when reporting errors are consistent in one direction, such as under-reporting high-calorie or stigmatized foods.
Question 5: When calculating nutrient intake from a food diary, which database is most commonly used in clinical practice in the United States?
- EFSA FoodEx2
- USDA FoodData Central (Correct answer)
- FAO/INFOODS database
- Canadian Nutrient File
Correct answer: USDA FoodData Central
USDA FoodData Central is the primary nutrient database used in the US for clinical and research dietary analysis.
Question 6: A client's 3-day food record shows an average energy intake of 1,200 kcal/day, but their weight is stable. What phenomenon does this BEST illustrate?
- Adaptive thermogenesis
- Dietary recall bias
- Energy intake underreporting (Correct answer)
- Hypermetabolism
Correct answer: Energy intake underreporting
Stable weight despite reportedly low energy intake is a classic sign of underreporting, particularly common in overweight individuals.
Question 7: Which nutrient is MOST difficult to assess accurately using a standard food frequency questionnaire?
- Total fat
- Dietary fiber
- Vitamin D (Correct answer)
- Carbohydrates
Correct answer: Vitamin D
Vitamin D is difficult to capture via FFQ because its primary source is sunlight synthesis, which is not a food, and food sources are few and variable.
RDN Dietary Assessment 2
Which dietary assessment method is considered the gold standard for estimating usual dietary intake over time?