Health and Food AssignmentHE 250 Personal Health (60 points possible)

The goals for this two-phased assignment are:

1. Gain information about your current nutrition intake and the health implications of your nutrient intake;

2. Explore connections between personal eating habits and your personal health; and3. Examine the relationship between food choice, food systems, and environmental health.

Phase One – Data Collection, Input, and Analysis 1. Collect Your Data

a. Write down what and how much you eat for 3 days using the attached data sheets. Choose three days that are representative of your usual eating habits. One record sheet for each of the three days is provided.

b. Record what and how much you ingest, the feelings experienced while eating, and the social context found yourself. You do not need to record the associated feelings for each food item but rather for each meal/snack. This information will assist you in answering the Summary Questions.

c. Do not include vitamin and mineral supplements you may be taking. d. Once you have collected your data for three days, you will use the ChooseMyPlate program to analyze your

data. 2. Input, Analyze, and Report Your Data and Results

a. The next page has detailed directions on how you to input your data into the ChooseMyPlate program. b. Using the data you collected and the results from the program analysis, you will interpret and report your

findings on the pages provided.3. Food Systems and the Environment

a. Watch Mark Bittman’s video, What’s Wrong With What We Eat, where he discusses his perspective on society’s current relationship with and attitudes towards the production and consumption of food. Access the video at www. you tube.com/watch?v=5YkNkscBEp0

Phase Two – Summary Questions Written ReportUse data and information from your reports and Data Sheets Eating Habits Column to answer the Health and Food Assignment Summary Questions.

Submitting the AssignmentTurn in your completed assignment by the due date posted on the course syllabus. Place the assignment worksheets in the following order (Note: Instructions sheets are not turned in with the assignment):

1. ChooseMyPlate Targets and Results (12 points)2. Day 1, Day 2, & Day 3 Data Sheets (3 points each; 9 points total)3. Health and Food Assignment Summary Questions (2 points each; 30 points total) 4. Attach a printed copy (in whichever format) of 3-Day Average Nutrient Intake Table (9 points)

Determine Your Targets

Go to this site: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate/index.aspx

On the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ChooseMyPlate plan page, a personalized Daily Food Plan is proposed. Insert your personal statistics in the appropriate boxes. After you have entered your data, click on the Submit button. (Depending on your calculations, the program might offer you a plan for your current weight or to gradually move toward a healthier weight – choosing either is fine).

The page produced provides a personalized Daily Food Plan that includes information about the number of recommended calories you need to support your activity level as well as amounts of foods from each food group that you are recommended to eat daily. Transfer the information provided on the website to the first column on the ChooseMyPlate Targets and Results Worksheet (page 4).

You are now ready to enter your food into the system and to analyze each day

Note #1 – While working with the ChooseMyPlate website and the diet analysis program, Food Tracker, the exact food choice that you ate might not be available. When this occurs, use alternative items similar to what you consumed. Know that while the list is extensive, it is not exhaustive. Food Tracker is a tool and might not be able to analyze everything consumed, but it will provide a fair representation.

Note #2 – While not required, it is recommended to create an account in the case that the session expires.

Directions:

1. Enter Food Tracker by clicking here: https://www.choosemyplate.gov/supertracker/ and entering Food Tracker.

2. Change the date to reflect your Day 1. 3. Enter the first item you consumed on Day 1 in the box labeled, “Type in your food here”. Food Tracker

will provide suggestions based on what you entered. 4. Enter the amount you consumed and for which meal time. Click the <+ Add> button. Use ounces, cups,

etc., instead of servings.

5. Once the food item is entered correctly, you will see it in the center “Meals” column, on the graph on the top right hand side of the page, and in your ‘Daily Limits’ box on the lower right hand side.

6. Repeat steps 3-5 for each item eaten on Day 1 until all your Day 1 items are entered.

7. Once completed with Day 1 data, transfer the results provided on the right hand side of the page (circled in the diagram) to the Day 1 Results column on the ChooseMyPlate Targets and Results Worksheet (page 4).

8. Congratulations! You have just finished Day 1.9. Change the date to represent Day 2. 10. Repeat steps 3-9 to enter the data for Days 2 & 3.11. After completing each day, be sure to transfer the results

provided on the right hand side of the page to the appropriate column on the ChooseMyPlate Targets and Results Worksheet (page 4).

You are now ready to print your 3-day average Nutrient Intake Page P1. In the “My Reports” tab, select “Nutrients Reports”.2. Enter the date-range from Day 1 to Day 3 and click <Create Report>.3. To make a print-out of your 3-day average, choose one of the

methods provided to Export your report. You can choose to make it as a PDF, an Excel, or a Word file.

4. Print and submit this report along with your completed assignment. You will use it to answer questions in the Summary Question section.

Name      

ChooseMyPlate Targets and Results(3 points each column; 12 points total)

Personal Data Entered to SuperTracker:

Age 19 Sex Male Weight (optional) 130 Height 5’7 Physical Activity Level Rock Climbing

Daily Food Plan Targets My Tracker Results

Food Group Amount of Food Day 1 Results Day 2 Results Day 3 ResultsGrains**Half of grains intake should be whole grains

     ounces (In orange box)     ounces (whole grains)

     oz equivalent      oz equivalent      oz equivalent

Vegetables (daily)

Dark green (weekly)

Orange (weekly)

Dry beans & peas (weekly)

Starchy (weekly)

Other (weekly )

     cups(In green box)

     cups

     cups

     cups

     cups

     cups

     cup equivalent      cup equivalent

     cup equivalent

Fruits      cups(In red box)      cup equivalent      cup

equivalent      cup equivalent

Dairy      cups(In blue box)      cup equivalent      cup

equivalent      cup equivalent

Protein Foods      ounces(In purple box)

     oz equivalent      oz equivalent      oz equivalent

Oils (daily)      teaspoons      teaspoons      teaspoons      teaspoons

Empty Calories      calories per a day      calories      calories      calories

Data Sheet for Day 1: Date_5/1/2014__ (3 points)Student Name Jimmy Nguyen

MyPlate Plan Data Eating Habits Data

Food/Beverage Item Amount Consumed Food Group Meal/Snack Site*(i.e. In car, kitchen table)

Social (alone,friends)

Feelings at the time* (i.e. sad, stressed, nervous, excited, happy)

Cereal                        

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

* Data entered in these columns may be by meal or snack designation not by individual food or beverage item.

Data Sheet for Day 2: Date____________ (3 points)Student Name      

My Plate Plan Data Eating Habits Data

Food/Beverage Item Amount Consumed Food Group Meal/Snack Site*(i.e. In car, kitchen table)

Social (alone,friends)

Feelings at the time* (i.e. sad, stressed, nervous, excited, happy)

                             

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

* Data entered in these columns may be by meal or snack designation not by individual food or beverage item.

Data Sheet for Day 3: Date____________ (3 points)Student Name      

My PlatePlan Data Eating Habits Data

Food/Beverage Item Amount Consumed Food Group Meal/Snack Site*(i.e. In car, kitchen table)

Social (alone,friends)

Feelings at the time* (i.e. sad, stressed, nervous, excited, happy)

                             

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

                 

* Data entered in these columns may be by meal or snack designation not by individual food or beverage item.

Health and Food Assignment Summary Questions(2 points each; 30 points total)

Answer each question directly below the question. Responses must thoroughly and thoughtfully respond to all points of the question. Anticipate paper length is 4-pages including the questions.

Nutrient Intake

Use data from you’re Choose My Plate Targets and Results Worksheet to answer:

1. According to your records, which food group (s) did you meet or exceed the recommended amount of servings? In what ways does this potentially influence your health? Be specific. Example – High vegetable intake provides significant amounts of antioxidants that may provide protection against cancer or High meat intake may be coupled with a high cholesterol and saturated fats intake which may increase one’s heart disease risk.

     2. According to your records, which food group did you not meet the recommended amount of servings?

In what ways does this potentially influence your health? Be specific. Example – Low fruit intake indicates a potentially low fiber intake which could influence future potential for colon cancer.

     3. Explain why this data is typical or unusual for you.

     4. Given the results of this data, list one step you can take to improve your daily food choices. Discuss

what you would need to do differently in order to accomplish this step.

     

Use Information on your 3-day Average Nutrient Intake Page to answer:1. List your Percentage of Recommendation for sodium and cholesterol. Was it higher or lower than

100%? If higher, what were two primary food sources?

     

2. List your Percentage of Recommendation for fiber. Was it higher or lower than 100%? If lower, what are two primary food sources that could increase your intake?

     

3. Review your vitamin intake. Identify the vitamin whose Percentage of Recommendation was the lowest. Discuss potential current and future health concerns if this low intake amount continues.

     

4. Review your mineral intake. Identify the mineral whose Percentage of Recommendation was the lowest. Discuss potential current and future health concerns if this low intake amount continues.

     

5. Identify two different food sources which you could incorporate into your diet that would supply the vitamin and mineral identified in questions 3 and 4.

     

Personal Eating HabitsResearch demonstrates that biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors interrelate to influence a person’s eating habits, caloric intake, and weight gain/loss. Biologically, food is consumed when we are hungry and have caloric and nutrient needs. Psychologically, our emotions, perceptions, and coping mechanisms have the potential to affect our eating habits. Socially, researchers note that appropriate portion size is achieved most frequently during meals with family than with peers or alone. The physical environment, too, has the potential to affect our food consumption in numerous ways; the location (home vs. restaurant), accessibility to healthy food choices, transportation access, and even the season of the year can all affect our eating habits.

Review the data you recorded under the Eating Habits Data columns and answer the following questions:

1. Discuss the relationship between your feelings and your food intake. For instance, did you find that you were using food to cope with certain feelings? (For example eating when you are sad).

     2. Regarding the social settings of your meals/snacks, were there meals that you routinely ate alone or

with other people? If so, how did this affect your intake? Discuss how the location of where you eat affected your food choices. Provide examples.

     

3. Think about how often you shop, where you shop and what time of the day you shop for food. Explain how your food purchasing habits affect your eating habits. If you currently live in a situation where someone is purchasing and preparing your food for you, then what would you do in the future? What patterns do you potentially see?

     

Food Supply and Environment

Watch Mark Bittman’s online video and answer the following questions.

1. Identify and discuss three main points Bittman addresses in the video.

     2. Which point was of personal significance to you? Why?

     3. Will you be changing any of your food purchasing and eating habits because of information Bittman

presents? If yes, what? If no, why not?

     

Remember to attach a printed copy (in whichever format) of 3-Day Average Nutrient Intake Table