Assessing dietary adherence in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT). I. Use of a dietary monitoring tool.

Participants in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT) were taught not only how to modify the fat content of their diets but also how to assess their success in doing so. To simplify the process, a food scoring system was developed in which positive points are assigned to high-saturated-fat and high-cholesterol foods and negative points to foods and high-polyunsaturated-fat and low-cholesterol content. Using special forms supplied by MRFIT nutrition counselors, participants were able to self-monitor their dietary regimens. The method is described and forms are illustrated.