Development of a food frequency questionnaire for children from 7 to 10 years old

To present and discuss the process of the development of a Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (QFFQ) aimed to 7-10 year-old children. A methodological study was performed based on the application of a Food Diary (FD) fulfilled by 85 children. Based on registered foods, the diet composition in relation to energy and macronutrients was calculated. Foods were grouped into items and the percentage of the contribution of each item to the diet in terms of calories and macronutrients were calculated. The QFFQ was constructed with 92 food items, 76 were selected by Block's method and 16 were identified from other instruments from literature developed for children and adolescents. The food items were grouped in 17 food groups with 3 serving sizes and 7 categories to measure food frequency. Among the food items, the rice was the one that showed the biggest percentage of contribution for energy and carbohydrates. For other nutrients, the meat and the milk were the ones that contributed most to the consumption of proteins and lipids, respectively.