New Spring Semester greetings!   Hope the DGA resources shared in a previous post are helpful as you update and integrate the new guidelines into your course.   As the new semester resumes the first project I assign is "Analyze My Diet".   Below is an excerpt from the project overview including an option for students for whom tracking of their daily intake is not appropriate.   I opt to have students track three days of intake using the attached log (by hand or on computer) before entering food and beverages into the AMD analysis tool through Launchpad.   They upload their food logs and their AMD Combination Report for 25 of the 100 points.  The remaining 75 points include 5 points for the tutorial and 5 points for each of the AMD activities (14 of these).   If helpful, here's that excerpt and food record attached!  As always, feel free to reach out to me with questions or input - jamie.pope@vanderbilt.edu  Project 1 Dietary monitoring and analysis project For this Analyze My Diet (AMD) project, students will keep a three-day food intake record that tracks food and beverage intake as well as other factors that play a role in eating behavior and food choice. The first part of the project will utilize an online nutrient and dietary analysis program through Launchpad to analyze dietary composition of key nutrients and compare to established recommended standards. After completing a short tutorial and using reports generated from the analysis, students will then complete online activities through Launchpad online media.  Activity due dates align with coverage of topics addressed over the course of the semester.  Students will be graded on the assignment completion and correctness not the adequacy of their individual intake. Note: closely monitoring personal food intake may not be appropriate for some students; please contact Professor Pope to discuss confidential, alternative arrangements. ... View more

New Year's greetings!   Imagine most of you are busy getting your Spring semester underway.   I wanted to share a few links and resources to assist with integration of content about the new 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).   We are in the process of updating digital content, instructor resources and ancillaries to reflect the updated DGA.  In the meantime, here is a set of slides from USDA/HHS (I've added a new slide that provides an overview as slide #2) that you can adapt to incorporate into your Chapter 2 slides that address the DGA: https://vanderbilt.box.com/s/t3eco23uru17ui6d6nnlz4tiihf9lu2q .  Below are a few links for easy navigation to DGA resources at dietaryguidelines.gov.  I've also included an article from Food Navigator that highlights some of the concerns - as always, there is always some criticism and controversy surrounding each release of the DGA: Executive Summary of the 2020-2025 DGA https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/DGA_2020-2025_ExecutiveSummary_English.pdf   https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/DGA_2020-2025_ExecutiveSummary_Spanish.pdf   Top 10 Things You Need to Know About the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/resources/2020-2025-dietary-guidelines-online-materials/top-10-things-you-need-know-about-dietary  2020-2025 DGA downloadable infographics and graphics https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/resources/downloadable-graphics   2-minute highlights DGA video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsUMzYUMNig&trk=organization-update-content_share-embed-video_share-article_title  https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2020/12/29/2020-2025-Dietary-Guidelines-for-Americans-A-first-look-from-added-sugar-and-alcohol-to-processed-meat  ... View more

I joined the launch of the newest 2020-2025 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) this morning (12/29). These science-based recommendations are released every five years to reflect the latest research and evidence in regards to the role of diet in promoting health and preventing disease. This edition builds upon previous editions, but with a new focus on nutrition across life stages - for the first time including infancy to age 2. The theme is "Make Every Bite Count" and there are four overarching guidelines as depicted below. A link to the Executive Summary can be found here:  https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/DGA_2020-2025_ExecutiveSummary_English.pdf  Visit dietaryguidelines.gov for more info.  We will be sharing resources and slides about the newest edition of the DGA with instructors early in 2021 that can be used or adapted for Spring semester.        ... View more

The first assignment in my introductory nutrition course is to submit one nutrition related question to address during the semester. The most common question revolves around "just what is a healthy diet?". The media overflows with confusing and conflicting - and often unreasonable - information and advice. Bottom line, a healthy eating pattern revolves around balance, variety, adequacy, and moderation as addressed in Chapter 2 on Healthy Diets.  But how do consumers define these characteristics? This article provides details from a study that shows people view variety and balance differently - and not always in line with what nutrition experts and dietary guidelines intend. https://theconversation.com/food-variety-is-important-for...         ... View more

We explore the common behaviors in populations that live the longest around the globe in our Nutrition for a Changing World chapter on "Nutrition and Aging". This interesting article also features the Blue Zones and focuses on food choices that promote longevity. Let me know and happy to share a pdf of the chapter if you don't have the textbook! https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/10/90-to-100-plant-based-diet-food-longevity-secrets-from-people-who-live-to-100-or-longer.html  ... View more