Diet Analysis Project

To prepare for this assignment, follow the steps outlined below.

Step 1: Review the generated reports from Weeks 2, 3, and 4.

Use the following reports generated from Weeks 2, 3, and 4 to collectively analyze your diet:

Meal Assessment Report for your weekdays (You may wish to generate a second Meal Assessment Report for all 4 days to help with your analysis.)
MyPlate Report for your weekend days (You may wish to generate a second MyPlate Report for all 4 days to help with your analysis.)
Activity Summary Report (for all 4 days)
Actual Intakes -vs- Recommended Intakes Report (three reports: weekdays, weekend days, and all 4 days total)

Analyze these reports and use them to help answer the items listed in Step 2.

The Assignment

5–7 pages, double spaced: Not including title page, appendices, and references (use at least three references).

Step 2: Analyze your diet in a formal report.

Using the provided template, address the following items in a double-spaced essay format:

Abstract

The abstract is a brief summation (150–200 words) of your paper highlighting the content and implication of your report.

Part I: Micro Analysis (Dietary Self-Assessment)

Introduction

This is a general introduction to your diet analysis that includes important background information so the reader can understand your analysis.

Vitamins and Minerals

Looking at your 4-day total, describe which vitamins or minerals were below 100% of your RDA.
Suggest two food sources you would realistically consume to help meet those RDAs.
Explain any insights you had or conclusions you drew about your vitamins and minerals intake and any deficiencies you may have analyzed.

Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains

Describe the amount of different fruits, vegetables, and grains you consumed daily.
Explain how your diet may benefit from more diversity of fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Explain three potential reasons why fruits and vegetables are hard to include in your diet.
If you consume the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables, provide two reasons why it may be difficult for others to do so.

Review the Actual Intakes -vs- Recommended Intakes Report for the 2 weekdays and the 2 weekend days.

Explain the differences between the two reports.
Explain the difference in your meals between weekdays and weekends.
Explain whether you eat healthier on a weekday or weekend and why. Suggest three ways that you can equalize the weekday menu and the weekend menu in ways that are realistic and achievable to meet your RDAs.

Food Choice Motivations and Influences

Consider the factors that may have influenced your food choices:

Personal preference (I like it.)
Habit or tradition (It’s familiar; I always eat it.)
Social pressure (It was offered; I couldn’t refuse.)
Availability (I was hungry and it was nearby.)
Convenience (I was too rushed to prepare anything else.)
Economy (It was a food I could afford.)
Health value (I think it is healthy for me to eat.)
Advertising (I saw an ad or commercial that made me want to eat it.)
Describe two factors that most frequently influenced your food choices and explain why.
Describe three changes you could make to create a healthier diet.
Describe at least three obstacles to change.
Explain one way you would overcome one of the obstacles.

Part II—Macro Analysis (From Self to Family and Community Dietary Assessment)

Introduction

This is a general introduction into what macro analysis (moving from self to family and community) means.

Personal Health

Consider some of the RDA values in your personal diet. Look at saturated fats, carbohydrates, calories, and sodium in particular.

Describe some health issues that may arise related to overconsumption of saturated fats, carbohydrates, calories, and sodium in your diet.

From Self to Family

Perhaps you live in a home with others or have your own family. You may be the primary cook in your home or the primary grocery purchaser. Consider the role that your own personal food preferences have in what those in your home also consume.

Explain whether others in your home or family consume the same foods as you.
Explain whether everyone in the household has a say in the foods that are cooked or eaten and why.
If you do not cook or purchase the food you eat, explain whether you have a say in what is prepared or bought at the store. Explain how much of the decision is yours.
Explain your role in bettering the health and wellness of you and your family.

From Self to Community

Every individual has the ability to effect change in a community.

Explain your role or future role in bettering the health and wellness of your community.

Conclusion

Interpret what you have written and what it means in the bigger picture. What do you want to happen with the information you’ve provided? What do you want to change? What is your ultimate goal in using this information? What did you learn?

Support your Final Project with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course. Use at least three references.