Final answer:
Estimate her iron consumption, Emily must maintain a detailed food diary over two consecutive days, including portion sizes and nutrient information, and complete a data sheet with total nutrient intake.
Step-by-step explanation:
To estimate how much iron Emily is consuming, she completes a diet record. This involves using a Food Diary to meticulously document her diet over the course of two consecutive days. She needs to include the name of the food, the amount eaten, and the nutrient information, which will likely be sourced from a Food Nutrient Chart.
The procedure includes two main steps. In Step 1, Emily will record her dietary intake on the provided Data Sheet, ensuring she includes all meals, snacks, and beverages consumed. This will likely involve measuring portions using cups and spoons and referring to nutritional labels for precise nutrient contents.
Upon completion of the food diary, Step 2 requires Emily to calculate the totals of nutrients consumed each day, and if required, track her physical activities and the calories expended, as per the Activity Report. Additionally, Emily could use guidelines such as MyPyramid and food labels to ensure her eating is balanced, which is important for accurate nutrient intake assessments.
Understanding that only about 10% of ingested iron is absorbed by the body, it's important to also note the balance of other nutrients in Emily's diet. Excessive intake of certain nutrients like calcium can interfere with iron absorption, so maintaining a balanced diet is critical for the accuracy of the iron consumption estimate.