DISCUSSION 1

  Initial Discussion responses should be a minimum of 200 words 

• Protein is one of the most misunderstood nutrients. What do you think is the most important function of protein? Were you surprised by any of the protein functions or by how little protein most people need in a day?
• Is it ethical for a nutritionist to promote or advocate for a high protein diet for weight loss? For body-building?
• For each scenario explain why or why not by examining the reasons behind the ethical decision-making process.

Outcomes assessed in this graded Discussion Board include:

GEL-1.02: Demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of original materials in Standard English.

GEL-7.02: Apply ethical reasoning to ethical issues within the field of nutrition.

TEXTBOOK

 Williams’ Essentials of Nutrition and Diet  

DISCUSSION 2

 Please review this hypothetical scenario and make responses to the following classmates that are thoughtful and advance the Discussion and are a minimum of 75 words. 

 A.B. grew up in India and has come to America for college. He lived with an Indian family during his freshman year of college and enjoyed the taste of familiar cuisine; as the mother of the family cooked much like his own.  However, he moved into an apartment with three other international students, all from different countries. The group of college students have similar interests and are close friends.  A.B. remains devoted to his education and studies long hours. He admits he does not want to take time to cook, so he eats mostly convenience food. He has found some Indian convenience foods; they aren’t as good as home cooking but he does enjoy the familiar taste. He is acquiring a taste for American food and he and his friends often order pizza together.  A.B. usually eats fast food for lunch because it is inexpensive and quick to eat.

EMILY POST

 A.B.’s eating habits if left unchanged will pack on the pounds and lead to possible health problems.  Eating a fast food filled diet is going to be high in calories with very little essential nutrients.  If he is most concerned with the time it takes to cook there are quick recipes he could follow, even some for Indian cuisine.  This website has a few recipes for quick Indian cuisine https://www.thespruceeats.com/easy-and-quick-indian-recipes-4118365.  Also there are so many nutrient dense foods that do not have to be cooked, and take just a few minutes to prepare.  A salad would be highly recommended and adding spinach, carrots, red cabbage, kale, and broccoli would make it very nutrient dense.  Also adding fruits in his diet would add the essential nutrients he is lacking.  Dietary Guidelines for Americans found on choosemyplate.gov recommends making half your plate fruits and vegetables.  This could easily be done with no cooking.  The Guideline also recommends drinking and eating less sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars.  The fast food A.B. is eating now is loaded with sodium, saturated fat and added sugar. Just making these changes would greatly improve his health and lower his risk for health related diseases.  

GABRIEL POST

 Initially, I have a few concerns about A.B.’s eating habits. First, A.B. is leaning heavily on fast and convenience foods as a replacement to the home-cooked meals he was accustomed to. Fast foods today are considered less healthy than decades before. According to Gilbert & Schlenker, “over the past 20 years, portion sizes have almost tripled” (2015). He may be consuming a large amount of kcalories but not enough nutrients. Additionally, A.B. is burning the midnight oil just like me, to get good grades in this wonderful class. Whenever I stay awake past 10pm I get the munchies. This is not healthy since your body needs to operate in a good rhythm and requires a good amount of sleep to function properly. And lastly, peer pressure is real. If he and his buddies are ordering pizza together often, then they are consuming an unbalanced diet of refined grains, saturated fats and empty calories.

All is not lost with A.B. He could inquire with his family and learn how to cook some of the basic Indian cuisine that he loves. All he needs is a hot plate and a few cooking utensils he can get at Goodwill or the thrift store. He could also teach Bollywood dancing, get a few dollars and stock his mini-fridge with fruits and vegetables to snack on. There are many healthy snack choices he can adopt such as nuts, dehydrated fruit and granola.