Scientists have been able to estimate the amount of nutrients that the body requires. However, the amount of any particular nutrient varies from person to person, depending on your “age, sex, general health status, physical activity level, and use of medications and drugs” (Schiff 2013). It is also important to remember that consuming the required amount of nutrients that needs your dietary guidelines does not mean you will achieve an optimal nutritional status either. There are various references to determine one’s adequate caloric intake and the nutrients that one should be consuming, including looking at DRI’s(Dietary Reference Intakes) that nutritional excerpts have used to make dietary recommendations, EAR’s(Estimated Average Requirement),
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For example, my height is 5’7”, my weight ranges from 115-120, and my activity level is lightly active (I exercise daily and am on my feet a good part of the day, yet I still sit). Due to the above information, I have various nutritional goals for this quarter. After analyzing my current diet pattern for the last week I have observed that my nutritional goal needs to be consuming more calories in a day, eating more protein rich foods(I tend to lack enough grams of protein in a day), eat more dairy rich foods, vary my fruits and vegetables, and have more variety in my diet. On a normal week I do tend to not consume as many calories as I should for my nutritional needs, however, this week I have had the flu, making my eating patterns different from my normal habits. I would also like to be consuming more seafood and choosing more foods that provide more dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and iron. Based on these goals, my appropriate caloric target is 1,680. Finally, breaking down this caloric target, my goal is to consume 210 grams of carbohydrates, 56 grams of fat (healthy fats), and 84 grams of protein rich …show more content…
In addition, having certain conditions, such as diabetes, may require some people to follow a strict diet plan and eat at the same times every day to stabilize their blood sugar levels. Additionally, athletes or people who work out vigorously, may need to eat more often than someone who is sedentary. Looking at the spacing of my meals and snacks I observe that I have a fairly consistent eating schedule. On an average day (not on Saturday when I was sick with the flu), I usually eat around the same times due to my schedule and what I am required to complete activity wise in a day. On an average morning I wake up and eat breakfast at 10:30. Next, about 4 ½ hours later I am hungry usually around 3:00, which is when I consume my lunch for the day. Even though I bike after breakfast, I tend to not get hungry for quite a few hours. Additionally, I eat dinner about 5 hours later at 8:00 pm. Finally, about 3 hours later around 11:00 pm I have a small snack, making sure I am eating more than 2 hours before I plan on going to bed to avoid developing GERT. Finally, I also observe that my caloric distribution is the highest at dinner after I have had a long day of activity because I tend to be the hungriest. Depending on the day, I tend to consume either the least amount of calories at lunch or breakfast. In reality, it would be wiser for me to consume my highest amount of
For example, my height is 5’7”, my weight ranges from 115-120, and my activity level is lightly active (I exercise daily and am on my feet a good part of the day, yet I still sit). Due to the above information, I have various nutritional goals for this quarter. After analyzing my current diet pattern for the last week I have observed that my nutritional goal needs to be consuming more calories in a day, eating more protein rich foods(I tend to lack enough grams of protein in a day), eat more dairy rich foods, vary my fruits and vegetables, and have more variety in my diet. On a normal week I do tend to not consume as many calories as I should for my nutritional needs, however, this week I have had the flu, making my eating patterns different from my normal habits. I would also like to be consuming more seafood and choosing more foods that provide more dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and iron. Based on these goals, my appropriate caloric target is 1,680. Finally, breaking down this caloric target, my goal is to consume 210 grams of carbohydrates, 56 grams of fat (healthy fats), and 84 grams of protein rich …show more content…
In addition, having certain conditions, such as diabetes, may require some people to follow a strict diet plan and eat at the same times every day to stabilize their blood sugar levels. Additionally, athletes or people who work out vigorously, may need to eat more often than someone who is sedentary. Looking at the spacing of my meals and snacks I observe that I have a fairly consistent eating schedule. On an average day (not on Saturday when I was sick with the flu), I usually eat around the same times due to my schedule and what I am required to complete activity wise in a day. On an average morning I wake up and eat breakfast at 10:30. Next, about 4 ½ hours later I am hungry usually around 3:00, which is when I consume my lunch for the day. Even though I bike after breakfast, I tend to not get hungry for quite a few hours. Additionally, I eat dinner about 5 hours later at 8:00 pm. Finally, about 3 hours later around 11:00 pm I have a small snack, making sure I am eating more than 2 hours before I plan on going to bed to avoid developing GERT. Finally, I also observe that my caloric distribution is the highest at dinner after I have had a long day of activity because I tend to be the hungriest. Depending on the day, I tend to consume either the least amount of calories at lunch or breakfast. In reality, it would be wiser for me to consume my highest amount of