Food Journal Analysis Number 2: Joe Smith’s Diet

Food Journal Analysis number 2: Joe Smith’s Diet

The following is an analysis of Joe Smith’s food intake for one day by using the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) website using a food tracker program. The analysis addresses the serving sizes consumed, which food groups were represented, and adjustments in consumption that should be made since Mr. Smith would like to loose weight. Visual representations are attached for reference in the appendix.

Comparison

Joes’s recorded protein intake was 180 grams.(Figure 3) When compared with the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) recommendation of 56 grams, there is a one hundred and 24 gram difference. The foods that Joe recorded that provide a source of protein are: ham, pork bacon, salmon, tuna, egg, and almonds. Mr. Smith’s protein intake is too high. Joe would have to replace some of his source of proteins with fruits and vegetables to keep other nutrients in balance.

Complete and Incomplete Proteins

According to diet.lovetoknow.com, animal sources of protein are eggs, fish, poultry, and meat. This is because they contain all the amino acids that are essential to the body. They are essential because the body cannot produce them on its own. This means that the eggs, salmon, tuna, ham, pork bacon in Mr. Smith’s diet is complete. Almonds are a plant source and are considered incomplete because they contain only part of the amino acids the human body needs.(Eating, 2006) There is not another incomplete source of protein in Joe’s diet to complement the almonds. However, the necessity does not exist to include a complimentary protein food because Joe ingests two sources of complete protein.

Protein Servings

According to the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) website food pyramid, two to three servings of the meats, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts group are recommended. Joe consumed 18 servings. This is six times the recommended amount.

To keep nutrients in balance, Joe would need to change his source of protein to more fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Mr. Smith achieved over 100% of his recommended daily protein. Mr. Smith’s health is important for him to keep his protein intake within the recommended range because of the health effects of ingesting too much or too little protein. The effects of too much protein can cause kidney failure.(Too Much, 2006) Too little protein intake can mean low energy, low stamina, poor resistance to infection, mental depression, slow healing of wounds, and prolonged recovery from illness.(What is Protein?, 2006)

Fiber Intake

Mr. Smith’s total fiber intake just under half of the recommendation as calculated by the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) website.(Figure 3) Joes’ fiber intake is too low. Figure two indicates that grains, fruits, and vegetables do not meet the recommended numbers or servings. Fiber helps flush bad fat intake from the human body. If Mr. Smith wants to loose weight, he should double his fiber intake.

Joe’s fruit intake was zero, vegetable servings were at six, and his grain consumption was five less than the recommendation. Mr. Smith’s diet did not meet the minimum number of servings of foods from each fiber-containing group when figure one is compared to the food guide pyramid. The foods in Joe’s diet that provide the most fiber in his day’s meals romaine lettuce, listed in figure one at 3 servings. Tomatoes and asparagus are listed at half a serving each providing he least amount of fiber. The trends in Mr. Smith’s diet that affect his fiber intake he chooses mostly meat and dairy groups.(Figure 2)

Diet Changes

For starters, Joe could replace an egg at breakfast with an orange or a banana, which is equivalent to one serving.(Wardlaw, 2006) Both ounces of ham during the mid-morning snack can be replaced by a grain source. An example of two servings of a grain source is a whole bagel.(Wardlaw, 2006)

At lunch, Joe eats six and a half ounces