The objective of this research is to compare the Day 1 and Day 2 dietary intakes of adults in What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (WWEIA, NHANES) 2013–2016. Dietary recalls of males (n = 2599) and females (n = 2624) 20+ years who had both a Day 1 and Day 2 recall and reported their intake as usual on both days in WWEIA, NHANES 2013–2016 were examined. Mean (±SE) energy intake for males was 2425 ± 26 kcal for Day 1 and 2334 ± 32 kcal for Day 2 (p = 0.004). For females, 1832 ± 18 kcal and 1775 ± 26 kcal were reported for Day 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.020). There were no significant differences between energy intake on Day 1 and Day 2 within males and females by ten-year age groups. Comparing 20 year age groups for males and females by race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic) and income (350% of poverty level) also showed no significant differences in energy intake between Day 1 and Day 2. Mean energy intake of adults was not statistically different between the two days of recall by sex, race/ethnicity or income within selected age groups. Overall, the difference in energy intake was less than 4% for both males and females.

National dietary surveillance produces dietary intake data used for various purposes including development and evaluation of national policies in food and nutrition. Since 2000, What We Eat in America, the dietary component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, has collected dietary data and reported on the dietary intake of the US population. Continual innovations are required to improve methods of data collection, quality, and relevance. This review article evaluates the strengths and limitations of current and newer methods in national dietary data collection, underscoring the use of technology and emerging technology applications. We offer four objectives for national dietary surveillance that serve as guiding principles in the evaluation. Moving forward, national dietary surveillance must take advantage of new technologies for their potential in enhanced efficiency and objectivity in data operations while continuing to collect accurate dietary information that is standardized, validated, and publicly transparent.

To assess demographic characteristics associated with variety of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake by adults in What We Eat in America (WWEIA), NHANES 2013–2016. One-day of dietary intake data of adults 20+ years (N = 10,064) in WWEIA, NHANES 2013–2016 were used. FV variety was defined as the count of foods consumed that contributed to total FV intake. To be counted, at least 0.1 cup equivalent (CE) FV of each single FV item and 0.2 CE from a mixed dish had to have been consumed. Each FV was counted only once; a mixed dish was counted as one. The Food Patterns Equivalents Database was used to determine the CE of FV intake. Individuals were classified for variety of intake as None (0 items), N = 579; Low (1–2), N = 3746; Moderate (3–4), N = 3423; and High (5+), N = 2316. Using t-tests, within each classification the % of individuals reporting were compared by demographic characteristics including gender, age, race/ethnicity, income, education, weight status, and current smoker status. Demographic characteristics that were significantly different (P < 0.001) among those classified as High FV variety included larger percentages of: those 60 + y (27%) than 20–29y (19%); Asians (34%) compared to Hispanic (24%) and Non-Hispanic black (17%); those at >350% poverty (31%) than either 131–350% (22%) or under 131% poverty (18%); and those with education of college or above (36%) than some college (23%), high school graduate (16%), or less than high school (18%). Those classified as High FV variety also had significantly lower percentages of: obese (19%) than either overweight (25%) or normal weight (32%); and current smokers (13%) than non-smokers (27%). All of these results were typically the inverse for the Low FV variety group with the exception of weight status which had no significant differences. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics among those classified as Moderate FV variety. Although the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that a healthy eating pattern includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, only 1 out of 4 adults were reporting at least 5 fruits and vegetables per day. Significant differences in % reporting appeared in the High or Low FV variety groups but not the Moderate FV variety group. U.S. Department of Agriculture.