Use APA format. To cover all the content thoroughly, you should write about 5-6 pages. Be sure to complete the reflection paper in continuous essay format. Do not write the question and then the answer, and please use full paragraphs. You may have a heading for each section, using the bolded names listed below. A well-written paragraph contains an introduction, supporting sentences that elaborate on the topic at hand, and a strong
conclusion. Please proofread for correct grammar, spelling, usage, and flow.
Use 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1” margins to format your paper. Follow the outline below and answer the questions for each section in separate paragraphs.
Introduction
Reflect on recording your diet for three days. What was challenging, fun, interesting, enlightening, etc.? What
did you learn from it? Did you gain any new awareness of your eating habits? Give a brief analysis of your
diet: quantity and quality of each of the six nutrients, consider balance, adequacy, variety, moderation, and
motivation. What feelings, mental or physical states did you notice concerning your diet? What did you learn
from it?
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Nutrient Report Reflection
Reflect on your Cronometer Diaries & Nutrient Report. What initially stood out to you when you did these
analyses? Were there lots of nutrient needs you didn’t meet? Were there many nutrient needs you
exceeded? Was there anything that surprised you? What did you learn?
Nutrient Analysis
For three nutrients you were lacking (or, if you were sufficient in all, choose three that you feel might
generally be low in your diet), research and write 1-2 paragraphs about each nutrient, including:
a. This nutrient’s importance/ roles in the body
b. What happens if you are deficient? If you ingest too much?
c. What can deplete your body of this nutrient? (medications, diseases, excesses of other nutrients,
insufficient intake, problems with digestion/absorption, etc.)
d. Find two foods that are good sources of that nutrient that you could incorporate into your diet. Then,
please explain why you chose these foods, how it is realistic for you, and how to incorporate them into
your diet.
For one of these nutrients you were low in, choose a disease/condition resulting from deficiency or excess.
Research this disease/condition and write a ~1/2 to 1 page summary of the disease, including:
a. What is it?
b. What causes it?
c. What are the signs/symptoms?
d. How is nutrition involved? (what nutrients are involved?)
e. What are three nutritional recommendations you might make for someone with this
disease/condition?
Ideal Day
Reflect on your “ideal day” diet. Was it challenging or easy to create a diet that meets your specific needs? In
what ways is your “ideal diet” similar or different from the three days you observed? Does your “ideal diet”
seem like one that will nourish you and leave you feeling satisfied? Why or why not?
Conclusions
Summarize what you learned about your eating habits and patterns and the influence of specific foods &
eating habits on your physical, emotional, and mental states. Reflect on what you have learned about your
personal dietary needs based on your recommendations and your “ideal diet.” What are you doing well
already, and what needs improvement? What challenges do you face in regards to your diet and eating
habits? How could you overcome them or avoid them? Did you enjoy this assignment? What will you take
away from this assignment?
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Goals
Based on these reflections, write three specific goals related to your nutritional health and wellbeing. Then,
explain what specific steps you can take to attain these goals for each goal.
Example Goal: Reduce my added sugars.
Steps: Replace one soda per day with seltzer water. Replace nightly ice cream with yogurt & fruit
Example Goal: Have more energy.
Steps: Eat a balanced breakfast (protein, carbs, good fats) every day.
Example Goal: Meet daily protein needs on a vegetarian diet.
Steps: Add one serving of beans/lentils 3-4 times per week.
