HE 250 - Health and Food Assignment Instructions
The goals for this two-phased assignment are:



Gain information about your current nutrition intake and the health implications of your nutrient
intake;
Explore connections between personal eating habits and your personal health; and
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 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.
Phase Two – Summary Questions Written Report
Use data and information from your reports and Data Sheets Eating Habits Column to answer the Health and Food
Assignment Summary Questions.
Submitting the Assignment
Turn 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.
2.
3.
4.
ChooseMyPlate Targets and Results (12 points)
A printed copy of 3-Day Average Nutrient Intake Table (9 points)
Day 1, Day 2, & Day 3 Data Sheets (3 points each; 9 points total)
Health and Food Assignment Summary Questions (2 points each; 20 points total)
Health and Food Assignment S 2012 In-Person
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 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.
Health and Food Assignment S 2012 In-Person
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 save and send your 3-day average Nutrient Intake Page P
1. 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. Save and submit this report along with your completed
assignment. You will use it to answer questions in the
Summary Question section.
Health and Food Assignment S 2012 In-Person
Name
ChooseMyPlate Targets and Results
(3 points each column; 12 points total)
Personal Data Entered to SuperTracker:
Age
Sex
Weight (optional)
Height
Physical Activity Level
Daily Food Plan Targets
Food Group
Grains*
*Half of grains
intake should be
whole grains
Vegetables (daily)
Amount of Food
ounces
(In orange box)
ounces
(whole grains)
My Tracker Results
Day 1 Results
oz equivalent
Day 2 Results
oz equivalent
Day 3 Results
oz equivalent
cups
(In green box)
Dark green
(weekly)
cups
Orange (weekly)
cups
Dry beans & peas
(weekly)
cups
cup equivalent
cup
equivalent
cup equivalent
cup equivalent
cup
equivalent
cup equivalent
cup
equivalent
cup equivalent
cups
Starchy (weekly)
cups
Other (weekly )
Fruits
Dairy
Protein Foods
Oils (daily)
Empty Calories
cups
(In red box)
cups
(In blue box)
ounces
(In purple box)
teaspoons
calories per a
day
Health and Food Assignment S 2012 In-Person
cup equivalent
oz equivalent
oz equivalent
oz equivalent
teaspoons
teaspoons
teaspoons
calories
calories
calories
Data Sheet for Day 1: Date____________ (3 points)
Student Name
MyPlate Plan Data
Food/Beverage Item
Amount Consumed
Eating Habits Data
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 S 2012 In-Person
Data Sheet for Day 2: Date____________ (3 points)
Student Name
My Plate Plan Data
Food/Beverage Item
Amount Consumed
Eating Habits Data
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 S 2012 In-Person
Data Sheet for Day 3: Date____________ (3 points)
Student Name
My PlatePlan Data
Food/Beverage Item
Amount Consumed
Eating Habits Data
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 S 2012 In-Person
Health and Food Assignment Summary Questions
(2 points each; 20 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. 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 worksheet 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 and list a specific food item which could increase your intake. Note/list 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 and list a specific food item which could increase your intake. Note/list potential current and
future health concerns if this low intake amount continues.
Health and Food Assignment S 2012 In-Person
Personal Eating Habits
Research 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?
Remember to attach a printed copy (in whichever format) of 3-Day Average Nutrient Intake Table
Health and Food Assignment S 2012 In-Person