Name Date Section
How's Your Diet?  
  1. For each question, select the answer that best reflects your diet. If you select more than one answer, the score will be averaged by adding the individual scores and dividing by the number of answers you selected.
  2. Keep the quiz as incentive. Take it again in a few months to see if your habits have improved.
  1. How many times a week do you eat red meat? (Include beef, lamb, pork, veal.)
    1. 0
    2. 1 or 2
    3. 3 or 4
    4. 5 or 6
    5. More than 6

  2. How many ounces of red meat constitute your normal portion? (Hint: 3 ounces, cooked, is approximately the size of a deck of cards.)
    1. 3 ounces
    2. 4 ounces
    3. 5 ounces
    4. 6 or more ounces

  3. What kind of red meat do you usually choose?
    1. Loin or round cuts only
    2. 80% lean
    3. Ribs, T-bon
    4. Hot dogs, bacon, bologna

  4. How many times a week do you eat seafood? (Omit fried dishes; include shellfish like shrimp and lobster.)
    1. 2 or more
    2. 1
    3. Less than 1
    4. Never

  5. How many ounces of poultry or seafood do you eat for a serving? (Do not count fried items.)
    1. 3 ounces
    2. 4 ounces
    3. 5 ounces
    4. 6 or more ounces

  6. Do you remove the skin from poultry?
    1. Yes
    2. Don't eat poultry
    3. No

  7. How many times a week do you eat at least one half-cup serving of legumes? (Include beans like soybeans, navy, kidney, garbanzo, baked beans, lentils.)
    1. 3 or more
    2. 1 or 2
    3. Less than 1
    4. Never eat legumes

  8. What kind of milk do you drink?
    1. Skim or 1%
    2. Don't drink milk
    3. 2%
    4. Whole

  9. What kind of cheese do you usually eat?
    1. Fat-free
    2. Lowfat (5 grams fat or less per ounce)
    3. Don't eat cheese
    4. Whole milk cheese

  10. How many servings of low-fat, high-calcium foods do you eat daily? (One cup of yogurt or milk, 2 ounces of cheese, or one cup chopped broccoli, kale, or greens count as a serving.)
    1. 3 or more
    2. 1 or 2
    3. 0

  11. What kind of bread do you eat most often?
    1. 100% whole wheat
    2. Whole grain
    3. White, "wheat," Italian or French
    4. Croissant or biscuit

  12. Which is part of your most typical breakfast?
    1. High-fiber cereal and fruit
    2. Bagel or toast
    3. Don't eat breakfast
    4. Danish, pastry, or doughnut

  13. What kind of sauce or topping is usually on the pasta you eat?
    1. Vegetables tossed lightly with olive oil
    2. Tomato or marinara sauce
    3. Meat sauce
    4. Alfredo or cream sauce

  14. Which would you be most likely to order at a Chinese restaurant?
    1. Chicken with steamed vegetables over white rice
    2. Cold sesame noodles
    3. Twice-fried pork

  1. Which would you be most likely to choose as toppings for pizza?
    1. Vegetables (e. g., broccoli, peppers)
    2. Plain cheese
    3. Extra cheese
    4. Sausage and pepperoni

  2. What is the most typical snack for you?
    1. Fresh fruit
    2. Lowfat yogurt
    3. Pretzels
    4. Potato chips
    5. Candy bar

  3. How many half-cup servings of a high vitamin C fruit or vegetable do you eat daily? (Include citrus fruit and juices, kiwi, papaya, strawberries, broccoli, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes.)
    1. 2 or more
    2. 1
    3. None

  4. How many half-cup servings of a high vitamin A fruit or vegetable do you eat daily? (Include apricots, cantaloupe, mango, broccoli, carrots, greens, spinach, sweet potato, winter squash.)
    1. 2 or more
    2. 1
    3. None

  5. What kind of salad dressing do you most often choose?
    1. Fat-free or low-fat
    2. Lemon juice or herb vinegar
    3. Olive or canola oil-based
    4. Creamy or cheese-based

  6. What do you usually spread on bread, rolls, or bagels?
    1. Nothing
    2. Jam, jelly, or honey
    3. Light butter or light margarine
    4. Margarine
    5. Butter

  7. What spread do you usually choose for sandwiches?
    1. Nothing
    2. Mustard
    3. Light mayonnaise
    4. Mayonnaise, margarine, or butter

  8. Which frozen dessert do you usually choose?
    1. Don't eat frozen desserts
    2. Fat-free frozen yogurt
    3. Sorbet or sherbet
    4. Light ice cream
    5. Ice cream

  9. How many cups of caffeinated beverages (e. g., coffee, tea, or soda) do you usually drink in a typical day?
    1. None
    2. 1 to 2
    3. 3 or 4
    4. 5 or more

  10. How many total cups of fluid do you drink in a typical day? (Include water, juice, milk.)
    1. 8 or more
    2. 6 to 7
    3. 4 or 5
    4. Less than 4

  11. What kind of cereal do you eat?
    1. High-fiber cereals such as bran flakes
    2. Low-fiber, low-sugar cereals, such as puffed rice, corn flakes, Corn Chex, or Cheerios.
    3. Sugary, low-fiber cereals, like Frosted Flakes, or fruit-flavored cereals
    4. Regular (high-fat) granola

  12. How many times a week do you eat fried foods?
    1. never
    2. 2 or less
    3. 3 or more

  13. How many times a week do you eat cancer-fighting cruciferous vegetables? (Include broc-coli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, bok choy, cooking greens, turnips, rutabaga.)
    1. 3 or more
    2. 1 to 2
    3. Rarely


Score: 



Scoring  
65-82:   Excellent
42-64:   Very good
28-41:   Good
-16-27:   Fair
Below -16:   Get help!


SOURCE: Center for Science in the Public Interest. 1996. Nutrition Action Health Letter. Copyright ©1996 by Center for Science in the Public Interest. Reproduced with permission of Center for Science in the Public Interest in the format. Presentation Materials/Handout via Copyright Clearance Center.

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