Fast Food: friend or foe?

For the last two days you and your partner have been using the internet to discover how many servings are necessary of each food group for your assigned individual.  You determined the number of calories that individual should be taking in each day to maintain a healthy weight.  You planned a day’s worth of meals that fit this individual’s nutritional needs, and made a power point slide or two covering your meal plan for the day.  As I mentioned, we will be adding these to our class website under healthy meals.   

Today we will be looking at the items fast food restaurants offer in terms of their calories and fat content.  I have four different restaurants here:  McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway and Taco Bell.  You and your partner will be selecting one restaurant and then deciding on a meal.  You will be choosing your favorite meal from this restaurant, including a main dish, side dish, drink and dessert.  Listing it in the space provided in the chart.  You will then use the websites to determine the amounts of fat, carbohydrates, protein, calories, sodium and cholesterol.  Complete the chart and add up your totals for the entire meal and do the comparisons for your recommended daily allowances.

  Step 1:   We have been discussing what your daily needs are in terms of the food pyramid.  If you need a quick review, go to  http://mypyramid.gov and click on MyPyramid Plan.   For this assignment you should enter your age,  sex, and physical activity level and submit your information.  This will give you a personalized calorie food pattern which is what we will be using for comparison purposes.

I have four different restaurants here:  McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway and Taco Bell.  You and your partner will be selecting one restaurant and then deciding on a meal.  You will be choosing your favorite meal from this restaurant, including a main dish, side dish, drink and dessert.  Listing it in the space provided in the chart.  You will then use the websites to determine the amounts of fat, carbohydrates, protein, calories, sodium and cholesterol.  Complete the chart and add up your totals for the entire meal and do the comparisons for recommended daily allowances for a 2000 calorie diet.

  Step 2:  Pick a restaurant.  Choose your favorite meal from this restaurant, including a main dish, side dish, drink and dessert.  List it in the space provided in the chart. 

Use the Fast Food Restaurant Sheet (Favorite Meal)  form below to record your restaurant and meal. 

Use the websites to access nutritional information:

Burger King   http://www.bk.com/en/us/menu-nutrition/index.html

McDonalds   http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/nutritionfacts.pdf

Subway   http://www.subway.com/applications/NutritionInfo/Files/NutritionValues.pdf

Taco Bell  http://www.tacobell.com/nutrition/information

 Step 3:   Review and list the amounts of fat, carbohydrates, protein, calories, sodium and cholesterol.  Complete the chart and add up your totals for the entire meal.  Next complete the calculations for the rest of the sheet and do the comparisons for recommended daily allowances for a 2000 calorie diet.

 Step 4:   If you have time...go back to your favorite restaurant using this link  http://www.fatcalories.com  and find another, healthier choice of a meal you would be willing to eat.  Record your information on the Fast Food Restaurant Sheet (Healthier Alternative) sheet.