Ishantae Peoples

2017 October 23
Choose My Plate
PPE 310
Food-tracker Results

According to www.supertracker.usda.gov, the amount of calories that should be consumed

is at least 2000 calories per day. After entering one day of my food consumption using the food

tracker, I was unable to meet the requirement that falls within the dietary guidelines. From the data

I have entered, I had only eaten 1010 calories, which is fairly under the ideal daily calorie limit.

In result to a poor calorie, I had only eaten for breakfast, snack time, and dinner. For breakfast, I

had a large sized orange. As well as having a Smuckers Uncrustables wheat strawberry jelly and

peanut butter sandwich. Later that day, I had about two items for a snack. My snack consisted of

5 pieces of sushi and a 1 single serving bag of Lays potato chips. The sushi was filled with cream

cheese, crabmeat and vegetables. The outer layer of the sushi contained rice and seaweed. For

dinner, I had a bag of Orville Redebachers microwavable popcorn, which was one serving.

Combining all the food I had eaten, I was under in grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and protein

foods, and oils. On the other hand, I was able to meet the limits in regards to added sugars, saturated

fat, and sodium.

Nutritional Intake

In regards to my nutritional intake, I would like to moderate the levels of total and saturated

fat that I take in. Looking at my Nutrients Report sheet, the target for total fat is 20-35%

(www.supertracker.usda.gov). I went over the goal by 7%. In addition to that, the target for

Saturated fat is <10%. I went over the average limit by 4%. In order to improve my nutritional

intake, I would like to be pay closer attention to the calorie information sheet to read about

ingredients. Take a look at National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute site, the Choosing Foods
for your Family (2013) mentions go foods are lowest in fat and sugar, relatively low in calories,

nutrient dense, and great to eat anytime (www.nhlbi.nih.gov) With this, I will only be able to

determine the nutrient intake by reading the nutrition facts. Along with paying closer to what I eat,

I will also improve my nutrient intake by packing lunches and snacks from home. Preparing food

from home will allow me to keep track of what I eat as well as maintaining portions sizes. I will

be able to manage the portion of how much sodium and sugars I will need. I, myself believe that

the food tracker is another great tool to help me improve what I eat on a daily basis. Being able to

see all the required calories and nutrients motivates me to meet the requirements so I could began

a healthier lifestyle.

Ex. Calories and Nutrient intake results via Super tracker

Taking a look at health.gov, the web article, Meeting people where they are: Contextual

factors and healthy eating patterns (2015), suggest the demand for food access in all facilities
such as workforces. The unknown author goes to say, Changes to food options within a setting

should not be down in isolation but with consideration of the overall mix of foods provided e.g.,

in cafeterias, at meetings, in vending machines, concession stands, and elsewhere( health.gov).

As an agent of healthy eating, I would like provide resources like the food tracker to my employee

to encourage them to become proactive in their health. Like myself, I was unaware of how much

sodium I take in per day. However, being able to utilize this form of resource, I am now aware of

what I eat and is able to take precaution to the food I eat. Unfortunately, there are many of people

who are unable to keep track of their nutrient intake due to take-out food accessibility. I believe

that there has become a normalcy in eating whatever, whenever. This issue alone has devalued the

point of reading over the nutrition facts, which is essential.

Reflection

In my personal life, Ive lived on-campus for about 4 years. I can admit that the all four of

ASU campus consists of dining halls, Dominos pizza, Chick-fa-le, Mexican grill, Chinese food,

etc. Being surrounded in this environment allowed me to be limited to only those options. Granted

that there was a community kitchen in the dormitory that Ive resided in, but the fast food places

were accessible and quick. Eating take out for break, lunch, and dinner allowed me to gain over

30 pounds my first year of college. Prior to college, Ive rarely ate take out because my mom would

cook at home. During that time, I had weighed only 115 pounds then after my first year of college

I had weighed 140. Gaining a lot weight made me entirely insecure about my body. I had to donate

all my favorite clothes so that I could make room for my new sized ones. The ambience of fast

food places targets many college students to eat out. Due to hectic classes, jobs, internships,

scheduling, it was extremely hard for me to police my food consumptions. I knew I needed to

become fit because my breaths began to be short after taking a flight of stairs. From there, I had
started to seek help from athletic friends who suggest a trip to the gym. From this experience, I

began to slow down and cut back from eating at fast food places on campus. As a leader, I would

like to share my personal story of my poor eating habits as well as providing historical data that

refers to poor health conditions like hypertension, obesity, and other health hazard conditions.

Going back to the activity, I believe that the employees will be faced with their truth and I will

desire to seek tips to maintain or start the healthy path. Not only for themselves but to relatives,

friends, and neighbors. At my company, I would like to integrate wellness seminars focuses on the

importance of healthy food access so that the employees have the option to identify healthy food

selections. Referring back to the food tracker, I am able to take a stance in my health due to being

aware. Raising awareness to my peers will allow us to become proactive in healthy food

consumptions.
 References

Unknown Author (2013). Nutrition for your Family, PDF Only. Retrieved from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/eat-right/choosing-foods.htm
Unknown Author (2015). Meeting people where they are: Contextual factors and healthy eating patterns.
Part 3. Retrieved from https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/chapter-3/meeting-people-
where-they-are/#food-access
Unknown Author. Choose my plate. Retrieved from https://www.supertracker.usda.gov/foodtracker.aspx