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Jane Barnes
Dr. William Hesse
PPE 310
October 25, 2016

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I.

Introduction
According to the USDA, adult individuals are suggested to consume no more than 2000

calories per day. The calories consumed should consist of the main food groups of grains,
vegetables, fruits, dairy, and protein. Consuming these main food groups and staying away from
sugars, processed foods, high calorie/low content foods is best for a healthy body and healthy
lifestyle.
II.

Dietary Guidelines
I completed an assessment on the USDA Supertracker website where I documented my

typical breakfast and lunches. Based off the results, it was determined that no, I do not meet the
requirements for dietary guidelines. However, the results are skewed because it only shows the
breakfast and lunch meals, not including an afternoon snack and dinner. Based solely off lunch
and dinner, it shows that although I am not meeting the dietary guidelines, I am doing
moderately well. In two meals, I consume 16% of refined grains, 85% of vegetables, 63% of
whole fruits, 23% of cheese (dairy), and 13% of protein. I consume a great amount of vegetables
in two meals which is a great start to the day. However, I lack protein and refined grains, two
categories that will help metabolism.
III.

Changes
To improve my nutritional intake, I would need to improve in all categories. However, I

seem to be on track for consuming 100% of the suggested amount of vegetables per day. I
especially loves baby kale salads with low-fat Caesar dressing. This is something that I love, that
is healthy, and that has nearly all of the main food groups. I do not consume a lot of meat, simply
because I do not much care for it. Because of this, I will need to be creative in my ways of
reaching my goal of 100% of the recommended protein consumption per day. I love eggs and can

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add a hard boiled egg to my lunch or afternoon snack to help reach the suggested protein intake.
To improve my refined grains consumption, I can start my morning off with a slice of whole
wheat toast with a light cream cheese spread. This will also contribute to my dairy intake.
IV.

Reflection
If I were a leader of a company, I would ask all employees to complete this assessment

for a week anonymously. It would be completely voluntary. If an individual does not feel
comfortable completing the activity, he or she will not have to. I would use the results as a
general guideline of the overall health and diets of my employees. While I know this activity
does not paint a 100% accurate picture of a healthy person simply because of their diet, it helps
as a tool.
Based off the data, I will seek advice and resources. I would see if we would provide a
nutritionist to those who are interested. I would also seek to have exercise groups available
before, during breaks, and after work to help promote health and wellness. I would also love to
partner with a gym to provide discounts to my employees. I firmly believe that if you have happy
employees, not only will their quality of life go up, so will their quality of work. Part of my role
as the head of the company is to ensure that the team I work with feels supported. I want to make
sure this covers all aspect of their work, including diet.
I would bet that many employees feel they are eating healthily because they are only
looking at the calorie content. However, just because an item is low in calories does not mean it
is good for you. By providing workshops and resources, I would be able to respectfully inform
my employees about better ways to nourish their bodies. With this newfound information, they
can take it home with them and hopefully spread the information to their families and their
lifestyles.

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V.

Fast Food
I believe too much of America is living in a produce drought. A produce drought is

typically a low-income neighborhood that does not have any affordable grocery stores or produce
markets within a certain radius of their homes. Instead, they have inexpensive fast food
establishments along with convenience stores that sell very limited groceries. I am always on the
go and it would be quite easy for me to just stop and pick up a quick bite to eat from a fast food
establishment. However, I know and always feel the repercussions of eating such a high fat, high
sodium diet. It is not worth it to me. I pack a lunch every day to ensure I have a healthy meal to
eat that nourishes me.

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References
SuperTracker: My Foods. My Fitness. My Health. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2016,
from https://www.supertracker.usda.gov/login.aspx?sessionEnded=1
Chapter 1 Key Elements of Healthy Eating Patterns. (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2016,
from https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/chapter-1/key-recommendations/