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Objective: To compare reporting accuracy for breakfast and lunch in 2 studies. Design: Children were observed eating school meals and interviewed the following morning about the previous day. In Study 1, 104 children were each interviewed 1 to 3 times with ≥25 days separating any 2 interviews. In Study 2, 121 children were each interviewed once in forward (morning-to-evening) and once in reverse (evening-to-morning) order, with these interviews separated by ≥29 days. Setting: 12 schools. Participants: Fourth-grade children. Main Outcome Measures: For each meal, food-item variables (observed number, reported number, omission rate, intrusion rate, total inaccuracy) and kcal variables (observed, reported, correspondence rate, inflation ratio). Analysis: General linear mixed models. Results: For each study, observed and reported numbers of items and kcal, and correspondence rate (reporting accuracy), were greater for lunch than for breakfast; omission rate, intrusion rate, and inflation ratio (measures of reporting error) were greater for breakfast than for lunch. In Study 1, for each meal over interviews, total inaccuracy decreased and correspondence rate increased. In Study 2, for each meal for boys for reverse and for girls for forward order, omission rate was lower and correspondence rate was higher. Conclusions and Implications: Breakfast was reported less accurately than lunch. Despite improvement over interviews (Study 1) and differences for order x sex (Study 2), reporting accuracy was low for breakfast and lunch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated telephone administration of the Children's Social Desirability (CSD) scale and our adaptation for children of the Social Desirability for Food scale (C-SDF). Each of 100 4th-graders completed 2 telephone interviews 28 days apart. CSD scores had adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and a 14-item subset was identified that sufficiently measures the same construct. Our C-SDF scale performed less well in terms of internal consistency and test—retest reliability; factor analysis revealed 2 factors, 1 of which was moderately related to the CSD. The 14-item subset of the CSD scale may help researchers understand error in children's dietary reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the accuracy of children's dietary recalls of school breakfast and school lunch validated with observations and obtained during in-person versus telephone interviews. Design: Each child was observed eating school breakfast and school lunch and was interviewed that evening about that day's intake. Setting: Ten elementary schools. Participants: A sample of fourth-graders was randomly selected within race (black, white) and gender strata, observed, and interviewed in person (n = 33) or by telephone (n = 36). Main Outcomes Measured: Rates for omissions (items observed but not reported) and intrusions (items reported but not observed) were calculated to determine accuracy for reporting items. A measure of total inaccuracy was calculated to determine inaccuracy for reporting items and amounts combined. Analysis: Analysis of variance; chi-square. Results: Interview type (in person, telephone) did not significantly affect recall accuracy. For omission rate, intrusion rate, and total inaccuracy, means were 34%, 19%, and 4.6 servings for in-person recalls and 32%, 16%, and 4.3 servings for telephone recalls of school breakfast and school lunch. Conclusions and Implications: The accuracy of children's recalls of school breakfast and school lunch is not significantly different whether obtained in person or by telephone. Whether interviewed in person or by telephone, children reported only 67% of items observed; furthermore, 17% of items reported were not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore fourth-graders' school breakfast participation by gender and race (black, white) and examine the extent to which parents' responses to "Does this child usually eat school breakfast?" reflected their children's participation. Design: Parents answered "yes" or "no" to the questions printed on consent forms. Observers documented which children participated in school breakfast on 26 to 51 randomly selected days per school during 24 weeks in the 1999-2000 school year. Subjects: 357 children recruited from all 22 fourth-grade classes from 6 schools in 1 public school district. Variables Measured: Participation rate, participation rate grouping [usually participated (≥ 50% of days observed), did not usually participate (< 50% of days observed)]. Statistical Analyses Performed: Komolgorov-Smirnov tests, McNemar's test. Results: Median participation rate was 37.5% overall. Distribution of participation rates differed significantly by race (K-S test, P < .001) but not gender. There was a significant difference in the percentage of parents who said "yes" or "no" compared to children's usual participation grouping (McNemar test, P < .001). Of parents who said "yes," 66% of children usually participated; of parents who said "no," 92% of children did not usually participate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To use data from observations and interviews to document fourth-graders' preferences for, and consumption of, fruits compared to vegetables available as part of school lunches. Design: Observations and interviews were conducted for studies regarding the impact of time interval between eating and reporting on the accuracy of children's school lunch recalls. Subjects/Settings: Children were recruited from up to 4 schools in one district during 3 school years; 63% agreed to participate. Randomly selected children (n = 237) were each observed eating school lunch once and were interviewed (regarding items eaten and preferences for items eaten) within 1½ hours or the next morning. Main Outcome Measures : Observed consumption of servings of items available as part of school lunch was recorded as none, taste, little bit, half, most, and all. Response options for preferences for items available as part of school lunch were liked not at all, a little, and a lot. Statistical Analyses Performed: Mixed-model analysis of variance. Results: Preferences were higher for fruits than vegetables. As preferences increased, consumption increased (P < .0001). Consumption of fruits compared to vegetables was similar after adjusting for preferences. Implications: Research is needed to understand how to increase children's preferences for vegetables as a means of increasing consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]