Reflections - Are the suggested nutritional tools useful?

In this assignment, I made use of the Food Intake Assessment, Healthy Diet Pyramid, Energy and Nutrient Compositions of Foods, RDDA and Recipe Analysis (one dish meal).

Food Intake Assessment

I made use of this tool to analyse my 3-day diet and to set criteria for my one-dish meal. I feel that this tool was most effective in giving me an analysis of my diet, as it was the most detailed and provided graphs and percentages which were very comprehensive.

Useful:

1. Provided graphs and percentages that illustrated comparisons between my diet components and RDDA very well, thus allowing me to see clearly what my diet lacks of or have an excess off.

2. Very detailed analysis of nutrients in diet, along with advices and recommendations to make my diet healthier.

Limitations:

1. Data of dishes are limited, thus not all the food items in my 3-day diet could be analysed.

Healthy Diet Pyramid

I made use of this tool to analyse my 3-day diet.

Useful:

1. Pyramid provided a visual image which was very comprehensive.

2. Gave examples of each nutrient.

Limitations:

1. Servings size was only specified for a few items, thus it was difficult to judge serving sizes of other food items in my diet not included in the examples.

Energy & Nutrient Composition of Foods

I made use of this tool to analyse my 3-day diet.

Useful:

1. Included more data of a larger range of nutrients. (E.g. specified vitamins like Vitamin A).

2. Table form; easy to read.

Limitations:

1. Servings size was only specified for a few items, thus it was difficult to judge serving sizes of other food items in my diet not included in the examples.

RDDA

I made use of this tool to analyse my 3-day diet and to set criteria for my one-dish meal.

Useful:

1. Allows me to judge my diet's healthiness level by cross-referencing with Recipe Analysis.

Limitations:

1. Does not provide RDDA for some nutrients.

2. Has a standard height and weight which does not match mine.

Recipe Analysis

I made use of this tool to determine how healthy my one-dish meal is.

Useful:

1. Provided data of many nutrients.

2. Allows customized serving sizes.

Limitations:

1. Data of dishes are limited, thus not all the ingredients in my recipe could be analysed.