My Plate Nutrition Project (Pyramid Tracker)–125 Points
Mastery Objective: You will be able to compare your food intake and physical activity with the
dietary guidelines and recommendations by using the online MyPyramid Tracker.
Food and Physical Activity Tracking: 3 days
PROJECT DUE: 125 points total:
10 points for Food Log
50 points for Food Exploration
30 points for Paper
35 points for My Pyramid Tracker Printouts
-3 bar graphs for food intake analysis (5 points each)
-3 physical activity score analysis (5 points each)
-1 history (5 points)
Directions:
1. Open a Word Document. You will use this to copy and paste all of the food pyramid and
exercise charts. At the end of the project, print out this document.
2. Go to: http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov/.
3. Click on Assess Your Food Intake.
4. Login Screen (once you have a login, simply enter your id and password). For first time
users, click to Register. Enter the required information.
5. Enter the Date for your food and physical activity. THIS SHOULD BE THE FIRST DAY
YOU KEPT THE LOG. After you enter your food and physical activity intake for Day 1,
you will need to change the date for Day 2 and then for Day 3.
6. Click on Proceed to Food Intake.
a. Enter each food item you have eaten that day in the search box. From the list, select
the food or drink. Be sure to enter all foods and drinks for the day.
b. When all the foods for the day are entered, click on Select Quantity. Enter the serving
size and number of servings you ate.
c. Click on Save & Analyze.
d. Click on My Pyramid Recommendation – Calculate My Pyramid Stats.
e. This will show the “Comparison of Your Intake with My Pyramid Recommendations.”
f. Copy and paste the “Comparison of Your Intake with My Pyramid
Recommendations” for each day to your Word document.
7. Click on Physical Activity Entry (top of page). Select “Standard” Option
a. Enter your physical activity in the search box. Include all reasonable physical activities
(walking the dog, household chores, sports, etc.). “Walking to class” should be the
minimum of what is included.
b. Add your activities. Find your activity (for example, type in “vacuum” or
“basketball”).
c. Click on Select Duration. Enter the minutes spent on each activity.
d. Click on Save & Analyze and then Analyze.
e. Click on Calculate Physical Activity Score.
f. Copy and paste the Physical Activity Score page for each day to your Word document.
8. When you finish your food intake and physical activity intake for Day 1,
a. Click on UPDATE PROFILE (top of page)
b. Change the date to your second day (or third day, etc)
c. Enter the food and physical activity information for Day 2 and then for Day 3.
9. After you have entered the food and physical activity for all three days:
a. At top: click on Food Intake Entry
b. At top: click on Analyze Your Food Intake
c. Click on Healthy Eating History
d. Select “1 week” view and then copy and paste the chart to your Word document
10. Type a 1-2 page, double spaced paper on the following:
a. Number of days you met the percent recommendation for each food category (milk,
meat, vegetables, fruits, & grains).
b. For the days you were below the recommendation level for a category, what would you
change to be a healthier eater? Be specific and give examples of food that you would
choose to eat or not to eat.
c. Analyze your physical activity for the 3 days. Discuss what you did and what you may
be able to improve upon for future activities.
d. Are all 3 days typical of your normal eating and physical activity patterns? If not,
please explain.
e. Provide your overall opinion of the project and discuss the knowledge gained from the
food exploration.