Question

Andrew wants to eat healthier and went online to learn about MyPlate. He came away overwhelmed at all the information and was turned off by reading about ounces and cups –concepts that are unfamiliar to him. He is clearly interested in changing his food habits but is stuck on the idea that that isn’t possible unless he weighs and measures his food. He is wondering if eating healthier is worth the trouble.

1. How would you encourage him to approach the goal of eating healthier?

2. What information would you gather about his usual intake?

3. What information would you gather about his willingness to change?

4. How would you use MyPlate to help him make better choices without overwhelming him?

Andrew’s girlfriend thinks he is not consuming enough Vitamin C. Andrew is worried that he will develop scurvy.

5. Can you assume that he is at risk for scurvy if he isn’t consuming the RDA for vitamin C?

6. Why may his girlfriend’s assessment be inaccurate?

7. How can you determine if Andrew isn’t consuming enough vitamin C?

8. What would you tell Andrew to calm his fears?

Answer 1

1. Andrew should be encouraged to take up the challenge of changing eating habit because he really wishes to change but got stuck with confusions. So the first step to encourage him is giving clarifications and clear up all his doubts and misconceptions. Explain him what exactly is healthy eating habit and it doesn't need measuring always . Also tell him the advantages if he changes his habit in terms of various lifestyle disease prevention. So he should feel that changing his eating habit and having a healthy eating habit is worth the trouble.

2. The information about his usual intake should be collected to assess what is the present eating habit of andrew. Some of the informations are:

What is his usual diet plan

How many meals a day he eats

What all food items he includes in his daily diet.

How often he eats junk foods

3. The informations to be collected regarding his willingness to change includes :

Is he genuinely interested to change his food pattern

Is he ready to quit eating junkfoods

Is he ready to quit baked items

Is he ready to spend a nominal time everyday on his eating habit

Is he ready to follow the diet plan

4. MyPlate is a nutrition guide which gives nutrition education and recommendations about the daily dietary intake. It is divided into four sections of approximately 30 percent grains, 40 percent vegetables, 10 percent fruits and 20 percent protein, accompanied by a smaller circle representing dairy, such as a glass of milk or a yogurt cup. This will help to make the eating habit in whichever way we want but healthy . It gives suggestions so that andrew can use this guide to make his choices of foods. It is very simple and easy to follow so that it won't complicate and confuse his decision.

5. Scurvy is the disease caused due to severe and chronic vitamin c deficiency . If your vitamin c intake is less you are at risk . But it doesn't mean that he is at high risk of scurvy. Scurvy occurs only when people completely avoids the intake of vitamin c for several weeks. But yes if he is not adding an adequate amount he will be at risk. So he can add more fruits mainly citrus fruits.

6. His girlfriends assessment may be inaccurate because either she is assuming that he is not taking adequate amount of vitamin c or she is lacking knowledge about vitamin c rich foods. So it can be inaccurate that she thinks he is not consuming properly.

7. Assessment of his daily dietary pattern reveals about his intake of vitamin c . Ask him about the frequency or quantity of fruits berries and vegetables in his diet . Also assess for the early symptoms of scurvy like

• generally feeling unwell
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• diarrhoea
• fever
• painful joints and muscles
• small ‘pinpoint’ bleeding around hair follicles visible in the skin.
• Also if requires do a blood test to assess vitamin c

8. We can explain to him what exactly is scurvy and who are the risk group . After doing his asessment reassure him with measures to prevent scurvy and how to modify his diet .