Wayamba University of Sri Lanka - Use of 24-Hour Dietary Recall to Measure Food and Nutrient Intakes - Learning Lab

Sep 16, 2026

Learning Lab 1A provides procedures for collecting dietary intake data using a 24-hour dietary recall approach. It explains the aim and learning outcomes, introduces dietary assessment methods, and details how a trained interviewer elicits complete information about all foods and drinks consumed over a defined 24-hour period. The lab emphasizes the importance of skilled interviewing, use of open-ended questions and memory aids, and proper completion to support conversion of portion sizes and analysis with food composition data for energy and nutrient intakes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPaper Templates

FormatPDF

Pages42

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Aim

Learning outcomes

Workshop programme

Session 1: Introduction and protocol review

Session 2: 24-hour recall form

Session 3: Multiple-pass 24-hour recall

Activity: Practice in pairs and Q&A

Session 4: Convert portion sizes to weights

Session 5: Estimate energy and nutrient intakes

Dietary assessment methods

24-hour dietary recall

Data collection and interviewer importance

Single vs multiple 24-hour recalls

Learning Lab 1A USE OF 24-HOUR DIETARY RECALL TO MEASURE FOOD AND NUTRIENT INTAKES WAYAMBA UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA Aim • To describe the procedures used to collect dietary intake data using a 24-hour dietary recall method. Learning outcomes At the end of this session, trainees will be able to: • Describe the procedures and purpose of the 24-hour dietary recall • Describe the passes in a multiple-pass 24-hour recall • Conduct a 24 h recall using correct procedure • Use food composition data to analyse dietary intake data Workshop Programme • Session 1: Introduction to the 24-hour dietary recall & Review of protocol (10 minutes) • Session 2: 24-hour recall form (5 minutes) • Session 3: Multiple Pass 24 h recall (15 minutes) • Activity: Practice in pairs – followed by Q &A (40 minutes) • Session 4: Conversion of portion sizes to weights (5 minutes) • Session 5: Use of food composition data to estimate the energy and nutrient intakes (10 minutes) SESSION 1 INTRODUCTION • The various methods of dietary assessment are essentially asking: • What was eaten? • How much was eaten? • How often is this eaten? DIETARY ASSESSMENT • Nutritional intake of humans is assessed by five different methods These are: • 24 hours dietary recall • Food frequency questionnaire • Dietary history since early life • Food diary technique • Observed food consumption • Duplicate method 24 Hours Dietary Recall A trained interviewer asks the subject to recall all food & drink taken in the previous 24 hours . Based on foods and amounts actually consumed by an individual on one or more specific days It is quick, easy, & depends on short-term memory, but may not be truly representative of the person’s usual intake Data collection methods for 24-h recall An in-depth interview conducted by a trained dietary interviewer Interviewees—subjects, parent, caretake The dietary interviewer solicits detailed information about everything the subject had to eat and drink from midnight to midnight of the previous day or over the 24-hour period, either backward or forward The importance of a skilled interviewer Dependent on short term memory and cooperation |
Food preparation methods, recipe ingredients, brand name of commercial products, use of dietary supplements | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Interviewer (important factors in obtaining complete and
accurate information) | | | | | | Use open-ended questions | Nonjudgmental manner/a neutral attitude /avoid asking questions in a manner that might influence the subject’s responses | | | Use key questions and memory aids | | | | | | | A single 24-hour recall is not considered tobe representative of habitual diet at an individual level but is adequate for surveying intake in a large group and estimating group mean intakes . Repeat 24-hour recalls can be employed to assess a typical diet at an individual level; these are also known as multiple recalls .

FAQs

What is the purpose of the 24-hour dietary recall in this learning lab?

The lab focuses on describing procedures to collect dietary intake data using a 24-hour dietary recall method and to support analysis of food and nutrient intakes.

Who conducts a 24-hour dietary recall and what do they ask for?

A trained interviewer asks the subject (and possibly the parent or caretaker) to recall all foods and drinks consumed during the previous 24 hours, from midnight to midnight, either backward or forward.

Why is a skilled interviewer important for accurate dietary recall data?

Accurate recall depends on short-term memory and cooperation, so the interviewer’s approach—such as using open-ended questions, a nonjudgmental tone, and memory aids—helps obtain complete and accurate information.

Sep 16, 2026

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