Validating a Brief Dietary Instrument to Assess Nutritional Risk among Preschoolers: The Preschool Adapted Liking Survey (Pals)

Dietary screeners should identify nutritional risk, reflect usual intake, and be easily administered. The validity and utility of screening intake, particularly fruits/vegetables, was evaluated using a parent-reported liking survey and food frequency screener among 485 diverse preschoolers (248 males, 27% African-American, 56% Hispanic) in government-supported preschools. Results suggest that PALS is a feasible and valid screener for preschooler's consumption of fruits/vegetables and foods associated with obesity risk.