Controlled Feeding With 24 Hour Recall

This study examines how accurately adults report their food intake using a common self-report method called the 24-hour dietary recall. While this method is widely used in nutrition research, it often leads to underreporting, especially among individuals with overweight or obesity. However, it is unclear if specific foods are more likely to be misreported. To address this, participants will be served a controlled meal containing both simple foods (e.g., fruit snacks, saltine crackers, cookies, and a coke soft drink) and mixed dishes (e.g., chicken salad, macaroni and cheese with peas). Each food item will be precisely weighed before and after consumption. The following day, participants will complete an online 24-hour recall, and the process will be repeated one week later. The study will compare reported intake to actual intake to assess accuracy and determine whether underreporting is more common for mixed dishes. It will also explore whether reporting accuracy is influenced by body weight, gender, or race. Findings from this research may improve the understanding of self-report limitations and support the development of more accurate dietary assessment tools.