block food frequency questionnaires

FAMILY STUDY

Cardiovascular Disease in American Indians

(Phase V)

Operations Manual - Volume Nine

BLOCK FOOD FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRE

THE NATIONAL HEART, LUNG AND BLOOD INSTITUTE OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

THE STRONG HEART STUDY

Cardiovascular Disease in American Indians (Phase V)

Operations Manual

Volume Nine


July 01, 2006

For copies, please contact

Strong Heart Study Coordinating Center

Center for American Indian Health Research College of Public Health

P.O. Box 26901

Oklahoma City, OK 73190

VOLUME IX


Table of Contents

Instructions for completing the Food Frequency Questionnaire ..........................................................................1 Block 2005 FFQ Instructions Cover Page and Contact Information ......................................................................2 General Instructions....................................................................................................................................................3 Instructions About the FREQENCY Part of the Food Questions ...........................................................................4 Instructions About the PORTION SIZE Part of the Food Questions .....................................................................7 Question by Question Introduction ..........................................................................................................................10 Q by Q Instructions – Breakfast items, dairy..........................................................................................................12 Q by Q Instructions – Fruits ....................................................................................................................................14 Q by Q Instructions – Vegetables .............................................................................................................................15 Q by Q Instructions – Meats and main dishes.........................................................................................................18 Q by Q Instructions – Breads, etc.............................................................................................................................20 Q by Q Instructions – Beverages ..............................................................................................................................22 Summary questions ...................................................................................................................................................25 Vitamins and supplements ........................................................................................................................................30 Additional Native American foods ...........................................................................................................................33 Concluding statements ..............................................................................................................................................34 Portion/Serving size ...................................................................................................................................................35 Food frequency processing guidelines......................................................................................................................36 Food Questionnaire ...................................................................................................................................................37

Strong Heart Study V 07/01/06 IX- i Table of Contents

Strong Heart Study V 07/01/06 IX-1 Block Food Frequency Questionnaire

Instructions for completing the Strong Heart Study Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ)

What is an FFQ? A Food Frequency Questionnaire is a tool for estimating usual nutrient intake over the past year. The FFQ may not have all the foods you eat, but it has enough to help you describe well your usual intake. We are interested in more than what you ate yesterday. Instead, the FFQ asks you to describe your usual patterns of eating, on average, over the past year. It asks two questions about each of 125 food items, how often you ate those foods, and then how much you ate each time. Your FFQ booklet should include a portion size picture guide, these instructions, and a description of several American Indian Foods.

What all will I be asked? The FFQ usually takes about 35 – 40 minutes to complete. You will be asked how often you eat 125 foods – breakfast foods, fruits, vegetables, breads and grains, meats, main dishes, snacks, sweets and beverages. There are a few summary questions on page 6. On page 7, you are asked which types of foods (low-fat, low-carbohydrate, etc.) you usually eat. Last, you are asked what kinds of vitamins and other supplements you usually take.

What do I do? An electronic scanner reads your answers into a computer file. Use a #2 pencil, mark only one answer for each part of each question, fill the “bubble” completely and neatly, and make no other marks on your answer booklet. Bring the entire booklet back to your Strong Heart Study interviewer.

Start by writing your name in the box on the first page. Your interviewer will most likely fill in the Study ID number and your measured height and weight, and then guide you through the first few items. Write in today’s date, your age, sex and pregnancy status, then fill-in the correct bubbles. Read the instructions on the first page together, and keep an eye out for more help in blue boxes as you go along.

Foods are divided up a little differently on an FFQ than in every-day life. Read all the way to the end of each food question so you will know what to include. Start with the American Indian foods on the back of the booklet, bottom of the page. Then turn to page 2 and continue throughout the rest of the FFQ. Don’t include the same food in more than one question.

How often? For each item, choose the one best “how often” answer for you. Pick the one that best describes your intake on average over the whole year. For three fruits – cantaloupe, strawberries, and watermelon – you are asked about your usual intake in the few months they are “in season”.

How much? If you eat less or more than the portion sizes listed in the questionnaire, choose the closest answer to your usual portion size. Use the portion size pictures as a guide to how much is in an “A”, “B”, “C”, or “D” portion size. The pictures show you food amounts in two ways – spread out on plates, or, for soupy foods, in bowls.

When you get to beverages, you will be asked the number of glasses, bottles or cans. “One glass” is 8 ounces (1 measuring cup) for most of the things you would pour from a larger container into a glass. For a few items usually sold in 12 ounce cans or served in big glasses, like iced tea, sports drinks, or Kool-Aid, “one glass” means 12 ounces. A wine glass is 6 ounces (3/4 measuring cup), and “cup” of coffee or tea is 9 ounces.

Answer all the questions Unless the questionnaire tells you to SKIP to another section, give an answer for every item, even if it is “Never” or “Don’t eat it”. Please check for missing answers and fill them in.

Thank you for completing the Strong Heart Study FFQ























































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block food frequency questionnaires