Catálogo de densidades y consistencias de alimentos como herramienta para estimación de porciones alimentarias en niños y adultos de la ciudad de cuenca

Abstract

Background: Currently, in Ecuador a valid tool of food densities and consistency is unavailable. The present study aims to develop a "catalog of food consistencies and densities" as a complementary tool to assess the habitual food consumption in Cuenca - Ecuador. Methods: this is a qualitative and quantitative mixed methodology study. In the first step, a list of the most consumed foods by the native population of Cuenca - Ecuador was obtained; these foods were classified into food groups and subsequently their weighted and measured (volume); with these data, the corresponding statistical analysis was performed to finally calculate the food density. Results: the proposed instrument includes seventy-seven foods classified into fourteen food groups; each food includes its weight in grams, volume in milliliters, density in grams per milliliter and nutritional information; these are distributed in 40 sheets, product of careful cooking phases and instrument design, including the revision of national and international reference materials; It also includes information that shows the size of seven food servings in three age groups and the classification of foods according to their density. Conclusion: a catalog of food densities and consistencies was developed. This might be a useful tool to be used in the evaluation of food consumption in both children and adults of Cuenca Ecuador, however to comply with that purpose must be validated to verify its validity and reliability.