Determining What You Ate Yesterday:
The 24-Hour Dietary Recall Interview

What is a 24-hour dietary recall interview?
During a 24-hour dietary recall interview, you will meet with a Registered Dietitian to discuss all foods and beverages you consumed during the 24 hours prior to the interview. With the aid of food models and memory prompts, you will be asked to describe in detail all foods and beverages you consumed. The interview is guided by a computer program; while you are being interviewed by the research dietitian, she or he will enter information into a computer.

What does the 24-hour dietary recall interview assess?
Your food and beverage intake will be analyzed using the University of Minnesota Nutrition Data System for Research (NDS-R), which is a high-powered software package designed for use in research settings. The NDS-R software program calculates your energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamin and mineral intake during the prior day. We compile your data with data of other participants in the same group to see how the group, as a whole, is doing in terms of nutrient intake. If we want to assess your nutrient intake in a more precise way, we will ask to you complete a 3-day food record, which gives us a more accurate picture of you average nutrient intake.

How do you prepare for a 24-hour dietary recall interview?
Fortunately, you do not need to prepare for a 24-hour dietary recall interview. All we ask is that you are as honest and thorough as you can possibly be. Rest assured, there are no wrong answers during a dietary recall interview.