NUTR-121 Week 8.2 Assignment: Group Menu

Introduction

For NUTR-121 Week 8.2 Assignment: Group Menu, your student group will be assigned a specific diet to create a 5-day menu accordingly. Each student is required to provide one day of the menu to complete the project. Add your name to the day column that you complete.

Group 4-Heart healthy diet

Step 1: Access the Group Spreadsheet

We will access the group spreadsheet in this step of NUTR-121 Week 8.2 Assignment: Group Menu.

1. Open the Group Spreadsheet
   • Access the shared Google Spreadsheet using this link: Group Menu Spreadsheet.
2. Find Your Group Assignment
   • Locate your group assignment under your name in the “People” section of Canvas.

Step 2: Understand Your Assigned Diet

In this NUTR-121 Week 8.2 Assignment: Group Menu step, we understand the assigned diet.

1. Review Relevant Information
   • Visit the appropriate website for your assigned diet to gather nutritional guidelines and recommendations:
     • Consistent CHO diet: American Diabetes Association
     • Renal diet: National Kidney Foundation
     • Gluten-free diet: Celiac Sprue Foundation
     • Heart-healthy diet: American Heart Association

Step 3: Plan Your Day’s Menu

1. Select Your Day
   • Choose a day of the week to plan your menu and add your name to the corresponding day column in the spreadsheet.
2. Create a Balanced Menu
   • Ensure your daily menu includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
   • Aim for a total of 2,000 calories, with appropriate portions of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
   • Consider dietary restrictions and nutritional needs specific to your assigned diet.

Step 4: Calculate the Cost

In this step of NUTR-121 Week 8.2 Assignment: Group Menu, we will calculate the cost.

1. Estimate Food Costs
   • Use grocery store prices or online resources to estimate the cost of each item on your menu.
2. Stay Within Budget
   • Ensure the total cost for the 5-day menu does not exceed $125 (or $150 for groups 1-3 with a 6-day menu).

Group Member: 

Day 1 – Name

Breakfast

• Oatmeal with fresh berries and almonds
• Whole-grain toast with avocado
• Orange juice, freshly squeezed

Lunch

• Grilled chicken salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and vinaigrette
• Whole-grain roll
• Apple slices

Snack

• Greek yoghurt with honey
• Carrot sticks

Dinner

• Baked salmon with quinoa and steamed broccoli
• Side of mixed greens with olive oil dressing
• Water with lemon

Snack

• Handful of walnuts
• Blueberries

Total Calories: 2000
Estimated Cost: $25

Day 2 – Group Member’s Name

Breakfast

• Smoothie with spinach, banana, protein powder, and almond milk
• Whole-wheat toast with peanut butter
• Green tea

Lunch

• Turkey sandwich with whole-grain bread, avocado, and lettuce
• Side of baby carrots
• Pear

Snack

• Cottage cheese with pineapple
• Celery sticks

Dinner

• Stir-fried tofu with vegetables and brown rice
• Spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette
• Sparkling water

Snack

• Almonds
• Strawberries

Total Calories: 2000
Estimated Cost: $25

Day 3 – Group Member’s Name

Breakfast

• Scrambled eggs with spinach and whole-wheat toast
• Fresh fruit salad
• Black coffee

Lunch

• Quinoa bowl with black beans, corn, tomatoes, and cilantro
• Side of mixed greens
• Watermelon slices

Snack

• Hummus with cucumber slices
• Whole-grain crackers

Dinner

• Grilled chicken breast with sweet potatoes and green beans
• Kale salad with lemon dressing
• Herbal tea

Snack

• Pumpkin seeds
• Raspberries

Total Calories: 2000
Estimated Cost: $25

Day 4 – Group Member’s Name

Breakfast

• Greek yogurt parfait with granola and blueberries
• Whole-grain muffin
• Orange juice

Lunch

• Lentil soup with whole-grain bread
• Spinach and tomato salad
• Apple

Snack

• Almond butter on celery sticks
• Mixed nuts

Dinner

• Baked cod with brown rice and asparagus
• Side salad with vinaigrette
• Water with cucumber

Snack

• Cottage cheese with chives
• Pear slices

Total Calories: 2000
Estimated Cost: $25

Day 5 – Group Member’s Name

Breakfast

• Smoothie bowl with banana, berries, and flaxseeds
• Whole-grain toast with almond butter
• Herbal tea

Lunch

• Chickpea and quinoa salad with roasted vegetables
• Whole-wheat pita
• Grapes

Snack

• Low-fat cheese with apple slices
• Cherry tomatoes

Dinner

• Grilled shrimp with vegetable stir-fry and brown rice
• Mixed greens with avocado dressing
• Sparkling water

Snack

• Dark chocolate (1 oz)
• Almonds

Total Calories: 2000
Estimated Cost: $25

Step 5: Collaborate with Your Group

In this step of NUTR-121 Week 8.2 Assignment: Group Menu, we will discuss how to collaborate with your group.

1. Review and Adjust Menus
   • Share your menu with group members and review each other’s plans.
   • Make necessary adjustments to ensure nutritional balance and budget compliance.
2. Finalise the Group Menu
   • Confirm that all days meet the 2,000-calorie requirement and stay within budget.
   • Submit the completed spreadsheet as instructed.

Step 6: Participate in Discussion

In this step of NUTR-121 Week 8.2 Assignment: Group Menu, we will discuss how to participate in the discussion.

1. Share Insights
   • Discuss any challenges or insights gained from planning the menu.
2. Respond to Peers
   • Comment on at least two group members’ posts.
   • Provide feedback and ask insightful questions to foster discussion.

You will need to work together to ensure the 5-day menu follows the Daily Value recommendation of 2,000 calories per day and assess cost using a budget of $125 for the total 5-day menu. 

Total Estimated Cost for 5 Days: $125

The total estimated cost for the five-day menu plan is $125, which fits within the budget allocated for this project. It is essential to ensure that each menu item adheres to the heart-healthy guidelines the American Heart Association provides. These guidelines emphasise the importance of consuming foods low in saturated fats, high in fibre, and rich in essential nutrients (Astrup et al., 2020). When preparing meals, portion sizes should be carefully adjusted to meet the 2,000-calorie daily target, ensuring that each meal provides balanced nutrition without exceeding the recommended calorie intake. This approach supports overall cardiovascular health and helps maintain a healthy weight.

Closing

This Owlisdom How-To Guide of NUTR-121 Week 8.2 Assignment: Group Menu. Hones your skills and prepares you for future academic endeavors. In the next module of NUTR-121, we will explore the Week 10 Assignment on the Disease and Medical Nutrition Therapy Presentation.

Reference

Astrup, A., Magkos, F., Bier, D. M., Brenna, J. T., de, O. O. M. C., Hill, J. O., King, J. C., Mente, A., Ordovas, J. M., Volek, J. S., Yusuf, S., & Krauss, R. M. (2020). Saturated Fats and Health: A Reassessment and Proposal for Food-Based Recommendations. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 76(7), 844–857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2020.05.077