FOOD INTAKE

Food Intake

Food Intake

Introduction

Over a three-day period I recorded my food intake. The three days reflect three average meal intakes including beverages. This analysis takes a deeper look into my dietary recommended intake (DRI) and what was consumed. In addition to consumption, the effects of too little or too much of the macronutrients were also observed.

Which foods in your recorded daily intake provide protein? Which provide carbohydrate? Which provide lipids?

Recorded intake of protein, carbohydrates, and lipid

Lipids: 33% Carbs: 55% Protein: 14%

Protein: Turkey Sandwich, Ham Sandwich, Kraft Cheese, McDonald's French Fries, White Bread, Watermelon, KIX Cereal, Banana, and Meatless Spaghetti.

Carbs: Watermelon, KIX Cereal, Meatless Spaghetti, Ham Sandwich, Turkey Sandwich, Cheetos Puffs, Banana, Pepsi, McDonald's French Fries, White Bread, and Salad.

Lipids: Ham Sandwich, Turkey Sandwich, BUITONI Light Alfredo Sauce, PAPA JOHN'S Thin Crust Garden Special Pizza, BREYERS ALL NATURAL Ice Cream Cookies & Cream. Kraft Cheese, KIX Cereal, Cheetos Puffs, Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing, and McDonald's French Fries.

Review how your recorded protein, carbohydrate, and lipid intake compares with the specific gram macronutrient recommendations of the DRI.

The macronutrient recommended ranges are, carbs 45% to 65%, lipids 20% to 35%, and protein can range from 10% to 35% (Wardlaw& Smith, 2009). After three days my intake was lipids 33%, carbs 55%, and protein 14%. Each of the three macronutrient recommended ranges were met and did not fall short. I would say even though my protein is within the recommended range I could increase this by incorporating more nuts into my diet.

In the foods that I consumed that had protein not many are complete. Complete protein foods are high-quality and have the nine essential amino acids within the structure. Most of my protein that I consumed was not complete meaning the structure of the food was not comparable to the human structure and had too few of amino acids. Foods I ate that were complete were white bread, poultry, and cheese. I do not think I consumed enough different types of complete proteins or incomplete proteins needed. This is why intaking complete proteins are important, according to WILEY PLUS (2010), “If we don't eat enough of it, less-essential body proteins are broken down, and their amino acids are used to synthesize proteins that are critical for survival” (Protein in Health and Disease, para. 1).

How much of your daily-recommended intake (DRI) for proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids did you achieve?

On May 10, 2011 I achieved the recommended levels of the three macronutrients. The one level that was on the highest end was carbs and the lower side was proteins. Even with attending on the higher or lower end of the spectrum, I was still within range. The reason for the high carb intake on this day was because of consuming soda and pasta. On May 11, 2011 I was within the recommendations and had a good variety in my meals that contributed to more balanced levels within the recommendations. For example my DRI was carbs 52%, protein 15%, and fats ...