Erie Community College
Title III
English Composition Assignment
Interdisciplinary Course Materials
Biology
Course:
EN031/132/020/021
Course Outline Topic: Health/Nutrition: The Food Pyramid
Project Title:
Understanding the Food Pyramid
Project description:
Students will be able to analyze and list the better food choices for a
healthy body. Students will then be able to make a menu for a fictitious
school (or other?) that contains healthy food choices from each of the
areas of the Food Pyramid. Finally students will write a persuasive
essay with the topic of what a healthy person should eat.
Author:
Ellene S. Phufas
Curriculum Expert:
Jill O’Malley
Semester Created:
Fall 2008
A.
Essential Question (What does this project attempt to answer?) How is the food
pyramid related to healthy eating habits? What do students need to know about the food
pyramid? How can this knowledge be applied to menu and diet preparation?
B.
Introduction
Students will use their knowledge of the food pyramid to understand what is involved in the
process of making wise choices in food selection.
After doing this, students will then be able to analyze typical nutrition plans and make
recommendations. This activity will better prepare them to make wise choices in preparing
meals.
C.
Basic Directions: You will study the data listed and then be prepared to discuss the
questions listed below. Using what you know about the food pyramid, you will make
recommendations about specific diet plans.
D.
Things to Learn Before Starting the Project
1. Know what the FDA Food Pyramid is.
2. Know how to analyze and understand the distribution of food in the pyramid.
3. Understand the concept of healthy nutrition and how it applies to a real-life situation.
4. Know how to write an essay arguing for a specific type of diet plan.
Page | 1
E.
The Project Assignment:
Before starting the specific assignment sections review the following with students
 Listed below is the food pyramid available at this website (see attached also).
Available also are downloadable charts for use in the classroom or for uploading
into ANGEL
http://mypyramid.gov/index.html

Listed below is the food guide pyramid, an essential guide for the instructor and
students
http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/MyPyramid/OriginalFoodGuidePyramids/FGP/FGPReso
urceForEducators.pdf#xml=http://65.216.150.153/texis/search/pdfhi.txt?query=teachers&pr=My
Pyramid&prox=&sufs=2&order=r&mode=&opts=&cq=&sr=&id=4592b7130
PPT presentation
Analyze my Plate
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/activities/analyze_my_plate.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assignment #1 (see attached)
This is a menu for an adult’s daily food intake. Examine it and then answer the questions below.
(see attached)
Meal Plan
Day 1
Breakfast
Shredded oats cereal
Banana, raw
Blueberries, raw
Milk, nonfat (skim)
Promise® SuperShots®
Morning Snack or with Lunch
Graham crackers, cinnamon crisp,
low-fat
Tea, herbal
Lunch
1 1/2 cup
1 medium
1/2 cup
8 fl oz
1 bottle-3 oz
8 crackers
8 oz
Page | 2
Tuna on rye:
Tuna in water, chunk light, canned
Mayonnaise, reduced fat
Tomato, red, ripe, raw
Green leaf lettuce, raw
Rye bread
Broccoli, raw, chopped
Salad dressing, Wish-Bone® Salad
Spritzers® Balsamic Breeze®
Vinaigrette Dressing
Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (See
recipe)
Milk, nonfat (skim)
Afternoon Snack
Mango, raw, sliced
Dinner
Chicken and Broccoli
1/2 cup
2 tbsp
2 slices
2 outer leaves
2 thin slices
1 cup
10 sprays
1 cookie
8 fl oz
1 cup
1 serving
Chinese stir fry vegetable blend,
frozen
Chinese stir fry vegetable blend,
frozen Green beans, broccoli,
carrots, onions, red peppers,
mushrooms, bamboo shoots
Promise activ® Buttery Spread
Pineapple, all varieties, raw
Evening Snack
Rice cakes, caramel corn
Tea, green, decaf
Daily Nutritional Summary
1 cup
Calories
Protein
Carbs
Fat
Saturated Fat
Cholesterol
Sodium
Fiber
2015
101 g
328 g
39 g
5g
130 mg
2855 mg
33 g
1 cup
1 tbsp
1 cup
2 cakes
8 oz
Page | 3
1. What is the total sodium amount in this one day menu? According to the USDA the
healthiest amount of sodium intake for one day is between 1000-3000 mg/day (see link below).
Does this one day menu fall between those numbers?
http://health.rutgers.edu/factsheets/sodium.htm
3. What is the total amount of cholesterol in this one day menu? Is the amount acceptable or
unacceptable according to the experts at the website links below?
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4488
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/foodlab.html
Assignment #2
2. Compare this one day menu to a healthy diet plan above. Do you think this is a healthy one
day diet? Explain your reasons.
Breakfast:
Breakfast Sausage Biscuit
Lunch:
McDouble
Snacks:
French fries and Coke
Dinner:
Chicken wings and French fries; coke
Page | 4