Question

1. What nutrition topics are you most interested in learning more about in this course? Why?
2. What are components of a healthy diet? What are examples of these components?
3. Think about your current eating pattern. What components of a healthy diet do you currently include?
4. What information do you typically review on food labels? How do you use this information?
5. The U.S. government has developed The Dietary Guidelines for Americans. What is the purpose for these Guidelines? What are examples of the guidelines?

Answer 1

topics interested in learning are:

1. Food and nutrition policies and programmes

2. Feto-maternal nutrition and low birth weight

3. Household food and nutrition security

I want to learn these topics as they are related to current situations. People need to deal with these topics on regular day to day basis and come up with many doubts regarding these situations. Having knowledge about food and nutrition related programmes and policies, pregnant mother and new born nutrition and food security will help me serve the clients with better and logical explainations and nutrition advice.

healthy diet is the one that provides the body essential nutrition which includes adequate fluid, macronutrients, micronutrients and calories. It helps to maintain and improve the health of an individual. Healthy diet consists of balanced amount of whole grains, fruits, green leafy vegetables, dairy products. It excludes packed or canned food, artificial sugars, fatty food. Healthy diet includes balanced amount of carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals and water.

The components of healthy diet that are included in my eating pattern are:

- carbohydrate in form of wheat roti or chapati

- protein in form pulses, fish

- vitamins and minerals in the form of green leafy vegetables, fruits like orange, papaya, apple and strawberry.

- fat in the form of cheese and butter

- fluid in form of soup, juice, water, coconut water, buttermilk

- dairy products like milk

Food labels provide the calorie content or about the nutritional value of the food. I usually check for the nutritive content of the food like how much fat does it contain and does the food have artificial flavours or sugar added to it. I usually prefer organic foods. The information provided through food helps the consumer to know about ingredients of food, its manufacturing and expiry dates and its calorie content. Using this information consumer can decide wether he wants to buy it or not.

The main purpose of the Dietary Guidelines provided by US government is to inform the development of Federal food, nutrition, and health policies and programs. It helps Americans to choose healthy food in their daily lives which helps prevent chronic disease and enjoy healthy living. It provides nutritional education. It also helps to develop healthy eating patterns in Americans. Some examples of dietary guidelines are :

1. Recommended dietary allowance issued by US government

2. Nutrition facts label

3. Food guide pyramid