Nutrition Research
7th Grade Science
Created by K Crossley & M Rehbehn 1/7/11
The US Surgeon General has asked Montgomery County Public Schools to have a group of student scientists develop a new middle school lunch menu. The menu will be piloted at participating schools in hopes of developing a nationwide program. Each small group of scientists must construct a five day school lunch menu that is balanced, nutritional, and affordable. You will create a bibliography for this project using NoodleTools, citing at least two sources.
Your menu should include the following:
1. Menu should be balanced based on the food pyramid
-- Remember that students do not need all their nutrients at this meal
2. Chemical (Nutritional) Composition of Food Item
-- Should include type of organic (carbohydrate, lipid, protein, vitamin) and/or inorganic molecules (mineral)
-- Percentage relative to daily allowance
3. Description of the impact on specific human body systems
-- How does the intake of this food benefit the human body?
-- For each menu item there should be a detailed description of how the intake of the substance benefits two or more body systems.
Websites
NoodleTools: Cite as websites. DO provide a URL for websites.
Nutrition
1. My Pyramid.gov – Here you can explore the food pyramid, work on an eating plan, look up the calories of any food, and learn about good nutrition. To find out how nutrients benefit body systems, click on “Inside the Pyramid”, choose “Related Topics” for food group and look for “Health Benefit and Nutrients.”
2. CalorieKing.com - Here you can look up calories and nutrients of many foods.
3. Nutrition.gov – Click on any of the buttons on the left for many links about nutrition.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Nutrition – Look under “Nutrition for Everyone,” “Healthy Youth Nutrition Topics,” and “BAM! Body and Mind.”
5. Harvard School of Public Health: Healthy Food Service – In this section you can find information about healthy menus. Look also in “What Should You Eat?” for information about nutrients.
6. American Heart Association: Nutrition Center – Look here for nutrition info and ideas. Check out other links at the top, like “Fats and Oils” and “Healthier Kids.”
7. Medline Plus: Child Nutrition – There are many links here about nutrition for children.
8. Mayo Clinic: Nutrition Basics – Here you will find many articles about nutrition and menu-planning.
9. Lunch Line Redesign – This site shows ways to redesign school cafeterias to make them healthier. Click on the information icons to read about the changes.
10. Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition – Here you can find recipe and meal ideas.
School Menus
1. MCPS Food and Nutrition Services – Here you can find current menus with calorie counts. Links on the left for MCPS nutrition policy, vending requirements, etc.
2. Fairfax County Nutrifax – Here is nutritional information about school lunch items from Fairfax County.
3. School Menu – You can find menus from many schools here (not in Montgomery County). In Maryland, try Howard County. Roll over the menu items to get nutritional information.
4. District of Columbia Public Schools: Menus and Nutritional Information – Choose a specific school. Scroll down below the menu to find specific nutritional information about each item.
5. Nutri-Cafe – Get headphones to use at school. Click on “Virtual Cafe” to choose items for a school cafeteria lunch. Click on “Meal Calculator” to create a meal and get nutritional information about your meal.
Food Prices
1. Pea-pod by Giant – Use the search box to find foods. Click on the food picture to find nutritional information. Do NOT fill in any personal info – just Start Shopping.
2. Netgrocer – Find prices for your menu development.
3. Bulk Foods Marketplace – Find bulk prices for buying large amounts of foods.
4. Foodservicedirect.com – Find about buying bulk foods and other food service equipment here.
Games/Tools – These are to be played only at home unless your teacher gives permission!
1. The Snack Neutralizer – Choose a snack, and find out how much of different kinds of physical activity you need to do to burn the calories from your snack. 
2. Hungry Hiker Build-A-Meal – Plan out a healthy meal, based on nutritional requirements.
3. Healthy Weight Pyramid Tool – Find out the calories and food choices you should make to lose or maintain your weight.
4. Fitter Critters – Harvest food, shop and decide how to have your critter eat the right nutritional items to get healthier. You can also exercise and work to earn money to pay for your food.
5. Smash Your Food – In this game, you guess how much sugar, salt and fat is inside a specific food item. Then it is visually smashed and you learn the true content, and that is compared to recommended nutritional amounts.
6. Food ‘n Me – Here are games about nutrition and exercise, as well as a quiz. Do NOT fill out the contact form if you see it.
7. Food Hero – Choose meals and exercise to be a healthy food hero.
