Introduction

It isn't easy to eat healthy meals and snacks in today's world of fast-food restaurants, high calorie foods such as frozen prepared foods, confectionery and pre-packaged foods.  Government studies show that more and more Americans are not eating healthy and are becoming overweight or obese.  Even young children are weighing more than ever before.  Children who put on excess weight often eat an unhealthy diet and do not participate in daily physical activity of 30 minutes or more. In fact, one in four American children are becoming overweight or obese. According to the American Obesity Association, about 28 percent of U.S. men, 34 percent of U.S. women, and 15 percent of children and adolescents are considered obese.

Most of you have probably heard about the Food Guide Pyramid designed in 1992. Your health classes have been based on that pyramid. The USDA has provided us with a new My Pyramid with a whole new look and interaction web site in 2005. The new pyramid is intended to help everyone understand how and why Americans today are not living healthy lifestyles.

Task

Your task is to evaluate your lifestyle using the new food pyramid prepared by the USDA.  Before you begin this task, predict which you think your lifestyle will be -- healthy or unhealthy? Let's see if you are right.

Process

1. You will keep a food diary for one week (7 days). Print this page. Write down everything you eat and drink throughout each day. Include all meals, snacks and the exercise you engage in each day.

2. At the end of the week (day 8), turn in your food diary to the teacher. 

3. Read the Kids health site to help you understand the new pyramid.

4. Use the USDA pyramid to study the recommended foods and amounts to be consumed. Complete the My Pyramid Plan to see what is recommended for you. Print your completed  My Pyramid Plan.

5. After completing your study, ask the teacher for your completed food diary.  Print this page. Now use the knowledge you have gained about healthy eating and evaluate your food diary.  Tell what you did right and what you did wrong.

6. Print this page. Make a list of the foods you like to eat in each section of the new food pyramid and the foods and drinks you like that are not on the pyramid. 

7. Complete a new food diary using the "food you like" list, your original food diary, My Pyramid Plan and your evaluation page for reference.  This time, make healthy choices of food you like and complete menus for meals and snacks you would like to eat or drink for 7 days. 

8. Divide your class into groups of 4 or less. As a group, study the new menus.  Use a different color of ink to make any corrections directly on each menu that the group decides is important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and that you can live with.  If your group has any questions or can not come to a reasonable compromise, ask your teacher for help.

Conclusion

GREAT! Now you know how to eat healthy and exercise right so you are more likely to have a healthy lifestyle.  Get permission from your parents if you would like to try your new food diary.  Make sure you have all the food you need on hand to help the success of completing a week of healthy eating and exercising.

Evaluation

Rubric For Weekly Food Diary, Evaluation and Final Food Diary

Teacher Page

This page was developed  by Barbara Irwin, reviewed by Lyndon and Barbara Irwin and is maintained by Missouri Farm Bureau.

Please address questions to Diane Olson at Missouri Farm Bureau or Dr. Lyndon Irwin at Missouri State University. 

©2005 Missouri Farm Bureau, All Rights Reserved!

Last revised on June 10, 2006