Objective: The accuracy of the AMPM was evaluated by comparing reported energy intake (EI) with total energy expenditure (TEE) by using the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique. Design: The 524 volunteers, aged 30 -69 y, included an equal number of men and women recruited from the Washington, DC, area. Each subject was dosed with DLW on the first day of the 2-wk study period; three 24-h recalls were collected during the 2-wk period by using the AMPM. The first recall was conducted in person, and subsequent recalls were over the telephone. Results: Overall, the subjects underreported EI by 11% compared with TEE. Normal-weight subjects [body mass index (in kg/m 2 ) 25] underreported EI by 3%. By using a linear mixed model, 95% CIs were determined for the ratio of EI to TEE. Approximately 78% of men and 74% of women were classified as acceptable energy reporters (within 95% CI of EI:TEE). Both the percentage by which energy was underreported and the percentage of subjects classified as low energy reporters (95% CI of EI:TEE) were highest for subjects classified as obese (body mass index 30). Conclusions: Although the AMPM accurately reported EIs in normal-weight subjects, research is warranted to enhance its accuracy in overweight and obese persons.Am J Clin Nutr 2008;88: 324 -32.

Findings from this study suggest that the USDA AMPM is a valid measure for estimating sodium intake in adults at the population or group level.

Only about one-tenth of US adults have a Na:K consistent with the WHO guidelines for reduced risk of mortality. Continued efforts to reduce sodium intake in tandem with novel strategies to increase potassium intake are warranted.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 provide recommendations on how much to eat from the USDA Food Patterns Groups such as Grains, Dairy, Fruits, Vegetables, and Protein Foods. The research objective was to develop the USDA Food Patterns Equivalents Database 2007–08 for the foods in What We Eat In America, the dietary component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–08, by retooling the methodology that was used to create the MyPyramid Equivalents Database 2003–04. The retooling steps included consolidating the weights of one cup of fruits and vegetables such that similar types of fruits and vegetables will have the same weights; using 16 grams of flour as the basis for defining one ounce equivalent of grains for grain products made of flour and using 28.35 grams as one ounce equivalent of grains for breakfast cereals and grains; estimating added sugars equivalents from the total sugar values of the foods that are defined as added sugars; and defining the amount of alcoholic beverages that contain 14 grams of ethanol as one drink. Selected, day 1 mean intake estimates for individuals 2 years of age and over were: fruits, one cup equivalent of which one‐third came from fruit juice; vegetables, 1.4 cup equivalents of which about one‐fourth was from potatoes and one‐fifth from tomatoes; and dairy, 1.7 cup equivalents. The new methodology simplified the process, without affecting the quality of the data.