Running head: CHOOSE MY PLATE

Leah Maynez
9:1 Assignment:
Choose My Plate
Arizona State University
PPE 310 - 18965
March 20, 2016
Dr. Lineberry

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Food Tracker Results

(SuperTracker: Food Tracker, n.d.)

Introduction

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For this assignment, the Choose My Plate food tracker tool was used to evaluate a day of
Shepherd Junior High Schools breakfast and lunch options offered to its students. A profile was
created for a hypothetical student in order to get accurate results. The student created was a 13year-old girl who is 5 feet and 2 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds. Looking at the schools
lunch menu, a day was chosen, and then each food item for breakfast and lunch was entered in
the food tracker in order to evaluate the schools meals based off the National Standards for
School Meals and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Following the evaluation, suggestions
for improvement, a summary, and a reflection will be discussed.
National Standards for School Meals
By looking at Shepherd Junior Highs lunch menu, it appears the school does meet the
National Standards for School Meals. For breakfast and lunch, students are to choose either fruit
or vegetables daily as two separate meal components. Whole grain is offered with the sub
options, milk (flavored/unflavored fat free and unflavored low fat) is offered during breakfast
and lunch, and daily meat/meat alternative is offered for breakfast. Then breakfast and lunch
combined are still within the range of calorie intake for middle school students as seen in the
food tracker results the daily calorie limit is 1800 and there are still 769 calories remaining after
breakfast and lunch (SuperTracker: Food Tracker, n.d.). Look at the results of the food tracker, it
does not appear the food is prepared at all through the use of trans fat (SuperTracker: Food
Tracker, n.d.). Information that could not be gathered from Shepherd Junior High Schools lunch
menu and the food tracker is whether the sodium content has reduced, the menu planning
processes, as well as the rules and reviews of the schools breakfast and lunch menus. Shepherd
Junior High is on a free-reduced policy; therefore, the requirements of the Local School Wellness
Policy are school lunches must meet standards based on the latest Dietary Guidelines for

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Americans . . . as well as Federal meal meal requirements [while] decisions . . . are made by local
school food authorities (National School Lunch Program, n.d.).
Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines are to follow a healthy eating pattern across the
lifespan; focus on variety, nutrient density, and amount; limit calories from added sugars and
saturated fats and reduce sodium intake; shift to healthier food and beverage choices; [and]
support healthy eating patterns for all (Executive Summary, n.d.). A child consuming breakfast
and lunch at Shepherd Junior High would somewhat meet these Dietary Guidelines for
Americans. As seen on the food tracker results, nutrient needs are being met as there has been
some intake in all food groups while still under the 1800 calorie intake limit (SuperTracker: Food
Tracker, n.d.). It can also be seen on the food tracker results that there is a low intake of sugars as
there has only been an intake of 3grams of sugar and the daily limit is 45 grams (SuperTracker:
Food Tracker, n.d.). Although students may not be fully aware of their decision, they are
following a healthy eating pattern and making healthier food and beverage choices.
Suggestions for Improvement
Three changes to improve the nutritional intake for students who eat at Shepherd Junior
High School would be to lower the amount of saturated fat and sodium the breakfast and lunch
food contain, include more vegetables, and educate students about the healthy eating habits made
during breakfast and lunch at school. As seen on the food tracker, the intake of saturated fat after
breakfast and lunch at Shepherd Junior High was a total of 13 grams while the daily limit is 20
grams (SuperTracker: Food Tracker, n.d.). The sodium intake was 2011 mg with the daily limit
being 2200 mg (SuperTracker: Food Tracker, n.d.). Both these intakes could be lowered if the
foods themselves contained lower amounts of saturated fat and sodium. Also as seen from the

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food tracker results, there was only cup of vegetables eaten after breakfast and lunch
(SuperTracker: Food Tracker, n.d.). In order to support students intake of food in all food
groups, vegetable portions can increase or automatically be a side in both breakfast and lunch. A
part of the Dietary Guideline for Americans is to follow a healthy eating pattern across the
lifespan [and] shift to healthier food and beverage choices (Executive Summary, n.d.). While
students are automatically meeting these guidelines by eating breakfast and lunch at Shepherd
Junior High, it is important students be educated. Therefore, healthy eating habits can then be
transferred to choices regarding food made outside of school.
Summary
In summary, the meals at Shepherd Junior High School appears to meet the National
Standards for School Meals while students somewhat meet the Dietary Guidelines for
Americans. This can be seen and supported from the food tracker results as well as the schools
lunch menu. As discussed above, specific information could not be gathered pertaining whether
the sodium content has reduced, the menu planning processes, as well as the rules and reviews of
the schools breakfast and lunch menus. While nutrient needs are being met and still under the
calorie intake limit with low intake of sugars, there can be an improvement in the intake of
sodium and saturated fat. In addition, the intake of vegetables could increase. Lastly, students are
most likely not fully aware that their decisions at school follow a healthy eating pattern as well
as shift to healthier food and beverage choices. Therefore, students should be educated so these
healthy eating patterns can continue outside of school.
Reflection
Completing this activity supported my understanding of how everything a person eats
does matter. By understanding the National Standards for School Meals and the Dietary

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Guidelines for Americans and using the food tracker, I realize how simple it actually is to
monitor what is eaten and evaluate how well one is meeting these standards. Reflecting on this
activity from the viewpoint of a teacher, I realize how important it is that students also be
educated as well as have similar experiences.
To educate and support student understanding on the importance of eating healthy, I
would assign students an activity similar to this one. I would have students create a profile in
Choose My Plate and then every day for a week enter each food item they have eaten for
breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the food tracker. After each day, I would have students reflect and
summarize on how well they ate and list one area of improvement. I believe through this activity
and data students will become more aware of how well they are eating during and after school.
I would also take the moment to educate students on the Dietary Guidelines for
Americans. I would then share with students the National Standards for School Meals.
Following, I would have a discussion on how students can use this information to make healthy
food choices outside of school.
My main goal would be for students to become educated on healthy eating patterns as
well as become aware of their own eating patterns. I believe by sharing with students this data
and information will impact their eating choices and support them in meeting the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans during and after school. Ultimately, helping them achieve and
maintain good health and reduce the risk of chronic disease throughout all stages of the lifespan
(Executive Summary, n.d.).

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7
References

Executive Summary. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/executive-summary/
Food & Nutrition. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mpsaz.org/food/menus1/jhs-month-bymonth/
National School Lunch Program. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp/nationalschool-lunch-program-nslp
SuperTracker: Food Tracker. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.supertracker.usda.gov/foodtracker.aspx

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Criteria

Points (5) Exemplary

Points (3) Proficient

Introduction was well

organized and created a
plan for the paper

ChooseMyP
late Analysis
SCORE:
x1

One breakfast and one

lunch (or 2 restaurant
options) were evaluated
Results reflect a
hypothetical student
Screen shot was
included

Contained a very
detailed application of
National Standards for
School Meals
Contains very detailed
applications of Dietary
Guidelines for
Americans
Contains very detailed
discussions for 3
changes to improve
nutrition
A summary of the
current state of the
schools nutrition was
included
Summary of changes
were included
A detailed reflection
regarding how this
teacher knowledge of
students impacts your
students inside and
outside your classroom

Introduction
SCORE:
x.5

Application
of results
and
proposed
changes
SCORE:
x1

Summary/R
eflection
SCORE:
x1

Introduction was
somewhat organized and
created a plan for the
paper
Only one breakfast or
lunch (or 1 restaurant
option) was evaluated
Results reflected a
hypothetical student, but
not enough information
was provided
Screen shot was included,
but incomplete
Contained a somewhat
detailed application of
National Standards for
School Meals
Contained somewhat
detailed applications of
Dietary Guidelines for
Americans
Contains somewhat
detailed discussions only
2 changes to improve
nutrition
A summary of the current
state of the school in
terms of nutrition was
included
but did not align with
paper
A summary of the
proposed changes was
included but did not align
with paper
A general reflection of
how this data impacts
your students

Points (1) Needs

Improvement
Introduction was
disorganized and did
not create a plan for the
paper
Only one breakfast or
lunch (or 1 restaurant
option) was evaluated
but was incomplete
Results did not reflect a
hypothetical student
Screen shot was not
included
Contained little detail
on the application of
National Standards for
School Meals
Contained little detail
on the application of
Dietary Guidelines for
Americans
Contained little detail
or only included 1
change to improve
nutrition
A summary of the
current state of the
school in terms of
nutrition was not
included
A summary of the
proposed changes was
not included
A reflection of the
practical data as it
relates to your
classroom was missing
or incomplete

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Writing
SCORE:
x1

Referencing
Style
SCORE:
x.5

Proper grammar and

punctuation is used
throughout the proposal
All sentences are clear
& developed
Paper was at least 3
pages with standard
margins, font, & text
size

APA style referencing

used throughout paper
and on the reference
sheet
The file document name
contains
Lastname.firstname.assi
gn#.course#
This rubric was attached

Most grammar and correct

punctuation is used
throughout the proposal
Most sentences are clear

& developed
Paper was 1-3 pages with
standard margins, font,

and size of text

APA style referencing

mostly used throughout

the paper and on the
reference sheet with some
errors
The file name somewhat

contains the
Lastname.firstname.assign
ment#.course#
This rubric was added but
not at the end

Many grammar and

correct punctuation
issues are found
throughout the proposal
Many sentences are not
clear and
underdeveloped
Paper was less than 1
page in length with
larger than standard
margins, font text size
Many errors in APA
style referencing
throughout the paper
and on the reference
sheet
The file document
name does not contain
the
Lastname.firstname.ass
ignment#.course#
This rubric was not
added to the document
submitted