Using computer software in a nutrition course

What's New, Nov/Dec 1999 by Peterson, Diane

Dietary analysis software offers students an opportunity to use the computer to analyze what they have eaten.

"I COULDN'T HAVE EATEN that much fat yesterday!" This is a common response in Family and Consumer Sciences classes at Raleigh-Egypt High School in Memphis, TN. Ninth through twelfth graders in Adult Living and Nutrition Science classes are familiar with dietary analysis software. This specialized brand of computer software has made the study of nutritional requirements fun and personal while introducing a "real life" component to the department's curriculum.

Dietary analysis software offers students an opportunity to use the computer to analyze what they have eaten. Students begin these nutrition units by creating a personal profile in the computer. They enter their age, weight, height, gender and activity level. Next, students select everything they ate and drank in the last 24hours from a database of food items. The list includes menu items from a variety of fast food restaurants and brand name grocery products. Using the student's own profile, the software analyzes the student's diet for nutritional content with menu printouts, bar graphs and pie charts.

Students compare the nutritional value of what they ate with the nutritional requirements of their personal profile. The software also indicates the appropriate amount of food for each profile and recommends types of physical exercise. The culminating project involves students in planning a menu and exercise program that will allow them to lose five pounds.

At Raleigh-Egypt High School, one class used the dietary analysis software as the basis of a grant proposal. The grant was for a technology upgrade in the Family & Consumer Sciences Department. Teachers submitted justification on why they needed the new computers and technology, what they would use it for and supplied an exemplary student assignment using technology.

The student assignment included a poll of 300 students focusing on their favorite fast food restaurants and menu items.

Students entered the information into a particular software database to analyze the top four most popular fast food restaurants. The database also determined the nutritional value of all the favorite menu items.

Students were able to assess which fast food restaurants and menu items were most nutritious. The department was awarded the grant from a locally funded operation entitled, "Memphis City Schools 1997-98 Model Technology Classroom Teacher Program." This program provided an opportunity for individual classroom teachers to integrate technology into daily instruction on a two-tier implementation process. During the first year of implementation, the winning teacher received a multimedia computer, one 32inch television monitor, Internet access, one multimedia cart, one color printer and standard software.

Based on successful completion of the first year implementation, teachers were eligible to receive additional hardware and software, two additional multimedia workstations and more funding for additional software. The students now use new software to create detailed and clear presentations that persuade fellow students to eat at the healthiest fast food restaurants.

A hands-on approach to teaching nutrition is an eye-opening experience for students. It is well worth adding to your curriculum and lesson planning.

Diane Peterson is a Family & Consumer Sciences teacher at RaleighEgypt High School in the Memphis City School District in Memphis, TN.