Assignment 1: Food and You: a Reflective Food Diary

Food and You: A Reflective Food Diary

Introduction We decide what to eat, when to eat, and even whether to eat for a variety of reasons. You will explore your eating habits by keeping a detailed food diary over the period of 4 days.

Part 1: Daily Food Diary Entries

Each day for four consecutive days, write an entry in your food diary detailing your food habits. Use the following chart to record your meals. If your meal times are different from those listed on the chart, make changes to help fit your days.

Part 2: Daily Reflection

At the end of each day, analyze your chart and write a few sentences to reflect on what you ate. Was this a typical day for you? Who made most of your food choices that day? Did any other factors affect what you were eating?

Part 3: Final Analysis

Respond to the following questions: 1. Which, if any, of your food choices were influenced by emotions? How many times did you eat because you were truly hungry? 2. How was social/family pressure a factor in your food decisions? 3. Which, if any, of your food choices were influenced by marketing strategies or food advertisements? 4. What was the biggest influence on what you ate? 5. How often did you think of health and nutrition when making food choices? What were some of your healthiest choices? What were some of the least healthy? 6. How do you think your food buying and consumption patterns help define who you are? For example, if Mary found she ate granola with organic milk and fruit most mornings. What does this say about her environmental attitudes, her food budget, her family history or her sense of independence (i.e., eating differently than her parents)? Date What you ate + How much How was it prepared Where did you get Where did you eat? Who did you eat with? (ex: 1 apple, ½ turkey sandwich (home cooked, open box your food (home, cafeteria, bus, (alone, family, friends)? on wheat bread with mayo + + microwave, fast food, (cafeteria, home, restaurant)? lettuce, 5 Oreos) restaurant)? store, friends)?

Breakfast

Dinner

Answer the following questions to help you reflect on your day:  Was this a typical day for you (explain why or why not)? ______ Why did you choose to eat what you did (taste, health, sharing, convenience, cost, environmental or religious concerns, advertising)? ______ How did you feel today, and why? (stressed out, relaxed, hyper, sad, sick, etc.) ______Date What you ate + How much How was it prepared Where did you get Where did you eat? Who did you eat with? (ex: 1 apple, ½ turkey sandwich (home cooked, open box your food (home, cafeteria, bus, (alone, family, friends)? on wheat bread with mayo + + microwave, fast food, (cafeteria, home, restaurant)? lettuce, 5 Oreos) restaurant)? store, friends)?

Breakfast

Dinner

Answer the following questions to help you reflect on your day:  Was this a typical day for you (explain why or why not)? ______ Why did you choose to eat what you did (taste, health, sharing, convenience, cost, environmental or religious concerns, advertising)? ______ How did you feel today, and why? (stressed out, relaxed, hyper, sad, sick, etc.) ______Date What you ate + How much How was it prepared Where did you get Where did you eat? Who did you eat with? (ex: 1 apple, ½ turkey sandwich (home cooked, open box your food (home, cafeteria, bus, (alone, family, friends)? on wheat bread with mayo + + microwave, fast food, (cafeteria, home, restaurant)? lettuce, 5 Oreos) restaurant)? store, friends)?

Breakfast

Dinner

Answer the following questions to help you reflect on your day:  Was this a typical day for you (explain why or why not)? ______ Why did you choose to eat what you did (taste, health, sharing, convenience, cost, environmental or religious concerns, advertising)? ______ How did you feel today, and why? (stressed out, relaxed, hyper, sad, sick, etc.) ______