Health Quests

Your Nutrition Diary

Have you ever heard the expression "You are what you eat"? Although it may sound a bit silly, it's true! The foods you eat play an important role in your overall health and wellness. For example, teens that skip breakfast, eat a lot of junk food or fast food, and don't eat many fruits and vegetables are at risk for health problems. They are likely to feel tired, develop cavities, and gain weight. Their risk for serious future health problems, such as heart disease and cancer, also increases.

On the other hand, teens that make healthful food choices and follow a balanced eating plan are more likely to feel good and have lots of energy. They also reduce their risk of developing serious health problems later in life.
Learning to follow the Food Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans will help you make wise food choices to get the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. This activity will show you how to use the Internet to find essential information about food and nutrition for good health.

After exploring these sites and completing the questions, you will be able to

• identify the five food groups.
• specify the number of recommended daily servings from each group.
• use information from the Web sites to help you keep a food journal.

	For one week, keep track of all the foods and beverages you consume each day. Note the food groups represented as well as your serving sizes. At the end of the week, write a brief evaluation of your eating pattern, including both positive habits and areas that could use improvement.
	Health Links
	Food Guide Pyramid At these Web sites, you will learn about the Food Guide Pyramid. For each of the five food groups, list the number of recommended daily servings and give one example of a serving. What is the recommendation for the fats, oils, and sweets group? http://schoolmeals.nal.usda.gov/py/pmap.htm http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/food/food-pyramid/main.htm Dietary Guidelines for Americans Visit this Web site to learn about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. What are the ABCs for good health? List the ten Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Choose one guideline, and explain why it is important for good health. http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2000/document/frontcover.htm Teen Nutrition At this Web site, you can read about the special nutritional needs of teens. What advice is given about eating at fast-food restaurants? What are the benefits of eating fiber-rich foods? What are the special needs for iron and calcium during the teen years? http://www.fda.gov/fdac/reprints/ots_nutr.html

Once you have explored these links and answered the questions, you are ready to evaluate your eating habits. Your journal evaluation should

• contain entries for food and beverages consumed in a seven-day period.
• list the serving sizes you ate as well as the food groups to which the foods belong.
• provide complete entries in chronological order.
• evaluate your eating habits honestly and objectively.