Diet Assessment for Individuals

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I.  Thinking carefully, complete the following report of your usual eating habits (usual means the majority of the time, or 5-6 days of the week):

Dietary Habits

a.      ____ Eat  fewer than three times a day

b.      ____ Make food choices that do not meet the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations

                                Yes         No   6–11 servings starches          Yes         No   2–3 3-oz servings meat/substitute

                                Yes         No   3–5 servings vegetables       Yes         No   2–3 servings fruit

                                Yes         No   2–3 servings dairy foods      Yes         No   Eats mono-/polyunsaturated  fats

                                Yes         No   Not more than 10% of calories from sugar

                                Yes         No   Not more than (F) l (M) 2 drinks alcohol/day

                                Yes         No   Low to moderate use of salt             

                c. ____Consume more than 400 mg caffeine/day

        d. ____Uses nutrient supplements:

                                Yes         No          Less than 100% DRI __________________________________

                                Yes         No          About or equal to DRI _________________________________

                                Yes         No          More than 500% DRI or greater than UL __________________

 

II. Compare the above report to the following summary of the contributions of food groups.

 

 

Major Nutrient Contribution of Food Groups
 

Food Group

Major Nutrients Contributed by Many Foods from This Group, which may be deficient

If Food Group is omitted or eaten in less than the recommended quantities

Dairy ( Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, Ice cream)

Calcium, Riboflavin, Protein, Carbohydrate (except in cheese), Potassium, (in milk and yogurt) and Vitamins D and A (in milk if fortified)

Beef, Pork, Chicken, Fish, Eggs

Protein, Iron, Niacin, Fat, Zinc

Starches

Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folic acid, and Iron if enriched carbohydrates omitted;

Also Zinc and Magnesium if whole grains omitted

Folic acid and iron if peas & beans omitted;

 

Vegetables

Vitamins C and A, Folic acid, Carbohydrate (in some vegetables), Potassium, Magnesium (in green vegetables)

Fruits

Carbohydrate, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium

 

III. The following can serve as a guide for meeting nutritional needs of most healthy people.

 

                 Food Choices Ample for Meeting Basic Nutrient Needs for Most Healthy People

(Aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans*)
 

4–8 oz protein foods daily including 6 oz fish weekly

3–4 servings of whole grains plus three servings of other grain foods daily

2–4 servings or more of high nutrient vegetables daily

2–4 servings or more of high nutrient fruit daily

2–3 cups milk/yogurt or low fat cheese as a substitute

Fat intake as appropriate for the calorie needs of the individual; at least 3 tsp per day, preferably monounsaturated,  including omega-3 fatty acids

No more than 1 oz ( 2 Tbsp) alcohol per day for men;

No more than ½ oz ( 1 Tbsp) alcohol per day for women                                                                      

 

* The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services http://www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines/dga2005/document/html/AppendixA.htm#appA2

 

Help with planning menus for meeting nutritional needs can be found at http://www.mypyramid.gov/