Some ADAPT participants may be asked to complete a food record. If you have received an email about completing a food record, please review the instructions below.
Understanding what you eat is one of the most important parts of the study. You have been asked to complete a 3-day food record on the days specified in the email you received. We suggest that you please review the instructions below before you start recording your meals. Reviewing the instructions will help us gather the most detailed and accurate information on what you are eating. We thank you very much for your time and dedication to the ADAPT Study!
Overview
Don’t forget these commonly forgotten foods:
Tips for a successful 3-day diet record:
Suggested guidelines for recording portion sizes:
Tips for estimating portion sizes:
Use measuring cups for:
Use teaspoons or tablespoons for:
What about mixed dishes?
Mixed dishes can be listed with all ingredients in the same text entry box—please remember, if you have a recipe, you can upload it to save time! If you upload a recipe, you can use the text box for that meal item to indicate if you made any substitutions or alterations to the recipe. Also, please be sure to note how many servings the recipe makes (the food record will prompt you to record this) and how many servings you ate (this is prompted, as well).
Below is an example:
Note: If you made the salad dressing at home, we would ask you to specify how. For example, 1/3 cup Kirkland aged balsamic vinegar, 1/3 cup Filippo Berio virgin olive oil, dash of salt, dash of pepper
How do I record a homemade recipe, if I don’t have a link or picture of the recipe to upload?
Below is an example:
If you ate ¼ of the recipe, you would report eating 2 cups. If you ate ½ of the recipe, you would reporting eating 4 cups.
How do I record if I have eaten out?
For any chain or fast food restaurants, record the name of the restaurant where prompted. You will then be provided with a text box to record the item you ordered, size, and any additions or substitutions.
Example 1:
Example 2:
For conventional restaurants, include the description of the food and any additions (ie. sauces, gravies, condiments).
Restaurant name: Jan’s Diner (Boston, MA)
Below is an example:
Below is a list of common foods, along with a list of details that you will want to remember to record (if they apply)
Food | Specification |
Beer: | brand, type, light, regular |
Bread: | brand, type (grains), additions |
Butter, Margarine: | brand, tube, stick, squeeze, whipped, regular, light, fortified |
Candy: | brand, type, sugar-free |
Canned fish: | brand, type, water or oil packed, drained or rinsed |
Cereal: | type, brand, additions, left-over milk |
Cheese: | brand, type, processed, fat |
Chips: | brand, type, baked, additions, flavors |
Cocktail: | name, ingredients, type of mixer, ice |
Coffee, Tea: | regular, diet, decaf, brewed, instant |
Cottage cheese: | brand, type, %fat, flavored, fruit toppings |
Crackers: | brand, type, grain, additions |
Creamer: | dairy or non-dairy, flavored, fat content, sugar added |
Doughnut, Sweet roll: | brand, yeast or cake, frosting, glaze, filling, bakery |
Dresssings: | type, brand, fat, creamy |
Egg substitute: | brand, additions |
Eggs: | preparation (fat), additions, size, fortification (omega 3s, etc) |
French Fries: | type, cooking method, fat, skin |
Fruit: | fresh, canned (syrup?), frozen, dried, sweetened, size, skin eaten? |
Fruit drink: | 100% fruit juice, drink, brand, type, fortified |
Mayo: | brand, type, fat, real or mayo-like |
Meat: | type, cut, piece, fat and skin trimmed or eaten, bones, prep (fat, breaded, cooking methods), additions (sauce, gravy), type and %fat for ground beef |
Milk: | % fat, flavored, soy, fortified, plant-based |
Oil: | brand, type |
Pancake, waffle: | type, brand, mix vs. from scratch, prep (fat such as butter), whole grain, additions |
Popcorn: | brand, type, fat, additions |
Potato: | prep (fat), additions, skin eaten |
Soda: | regular, diet, decaf, brand, ice |
Sports or energy drink: | brand, type, sugar free, ice |
Tortilla: | corn, flour, whole wheat, fried (fat) |
Vegetables: | fresh, canned, frozen, raw, cooked, prep (fat, cooking method), brands of commercial frozen mixture |
Water: | brand, type flavored, fortified |
Wine: | dinner, dessert, type, red, white, rose |
Yogurt: | %fat, flavored, brand, fortified |
Below is a list of meals/mixed dishes, along with details that you will want to remember to record
Mixed dishes: | scratch, commercial mix, deli, takeout, main ingredients, toppings, additions, cooking methods. If prepared at home, please provide recipe. |
Soups: | type, brand, home-made or ready-to-serve, take-out, creamy, chunky, salt/fat |
Salads: | ingredients, toppings, dressings |
Pizza: | type, home-made or take-out, brand, thick or thin crust, toppings |
Sandwich: | type of bread, fillings, spreads, home-made or take-out |
Fast food: | name of restaurant, name of item, size |
A note on dietary supplements
Dietary supplements are important to record in your food record but commonly forgotten!
Please remember to record any vitamins, minerals, fiber, antacids, herbals oils (fish, flax), amino acids, botanicals, etc., as well as brand names and amounts/doses taken.
Helpful abbreviations
Helpful conversions