You Are What You Eat
An Internet WebQuest on WhatYouEat

created by PDL UMass

Introduction | The Task | The Process & Resources | Conclusion | HyperText Dictionary


Introduction

The news is full of hype about what you should eat. What can you believe? What is good for you? What's bad? This quest will take you on a journey through the maze of good and bad information. Hopefully you'll come out with a better idea of what is best for you based on some real science.



The Quest

What does your body need to keep going strong?



The Process and Resources

For this WebQuest you will be working together in pairs and as a lab group. The worksheets you need for this webquest are available at the link below.

Each section will present you with leading questions. The titles of the weblinks also present questions. Do your best to answer all questions completely and accurately. By the time you are done you should be an expert on your own personal nutrition.

You will want to start this activity by keeping a daily diet log for the next week. Write everything you eat down. You may be surprised what you learn about yourself.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Everyone has heard the phrase: 'Man (or woman for that matter!) does not live by bread alone.' This statement could not be more true. We must eat a wide variety of foods to provide our bodies with all the nutrients needed for energy - to do work, and raw materials - for growth and repair.

Let's start with the basics. At the market some foods are labeled 'organic.' What does this mean? And does it mean the same thing to a chemist or biologist?

What are the six basic nutrient groups that we need to eat to maintain a healthy body? Which are organic? Which are inorganic?

(Challenge: 'Roughage' is a subtype of one of the six basic nutrient groups – Which?)

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

Now you know what the names of the basic nutrient groups are. But 'What' are they? Let's investigate further.

Each of the sections below will take you on a quest to learn more about each type of nutrient group. Your job is to discover the 'Whats,' 'Whys' and 'Hows' of good nutrition so you can provide your body with the best. Make sure to answer the questions accurately and completely.

Let's start by taking a look at the most controversial nutrient, FAT.......

The Skinny on Fat.

Fat has been a topic for years. People try all sorts of tricks to get rid of it in their body, but want to keep it in their diet. 'No' you say? Well, not many of us are keeping with those low-fat diets that are all the rage. And even if we are, then why is American obesity at an all time high? This page will help you find out the 'skinny on fat' and hopefully put fat & nutrition in the proper perspective for you.
Below are some questions for you to answer and the link where you will do your investigations:

1) What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats? between monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats? Give some examples of foods where each can be found.
2) What are essential fatty acids?
3) What are the two types of cholesterol and what role do they play in regard to fat?
4) What are free radicals and how do they affect fats?
5) According to the experts, what are the daily dietary guidelines for fat intake?
6) What are the five factors that are said to cause obesity?
7) Name at least three good things that fat does for the body.
8) Use the calipers to measure your partner's body fat and have them measure yours. Follow the directions in the link. You may want to measure twice to get an accurate measure. Write down your results.

Weighing in on Balance

Now you know everything there is to know about fat. Next, you need to understand the importance of the other nutrient groups.

Continue on your quest to discover the 'Whats,' 'Whys' and 'Hows' of the other nutrient groups. As you proceed, remember you will need to answer the following questions for each of the nutrient groups you study:

1) What is it? (Organic/Inorganic?) What is it made of?
2) Are there different types or kinds?
3) What does the body use it or them for? What's its purpose?
4) How much do I need to eat?
5) What foods do I need to eat to get these nutrients?
6) What happens if I don't get enough or if I get too much?

Remember: You just studied 'The Skinny on Fat.' You should be able to answer the questions in this section for that very important nutrient!

'Physical Chemistry' and Good Reactions

Hopefully, you have become familiar with the basic essential nutrients needed for good health. In “Physical Chemistry” you will explore the chemical nature of some of these nutrients. What types of chemicals are they? Why does our body need them? What do they do? If we need iron in our diet, does that mean iron metal? What form of iron are we eating when we do eat “iron-rich” foods? These are the types of questions you may have wondered about before, and some of these questions will be answered in your search.

Chemistry is the study of how matter changes from one substance to another. When this happens, we say a reaction has taken place. There are many different reactions that take place in our bodies, and some of them are far too complicated to discuss here. So, we will try to highlight a few of the more important reactions and interactions of specific nutrients.

A quick note on answering these questions. Some are asking for only a description of the chemistry, and some are asking for an actual chemical reaction, using names and symbols. Good luck!

Questions:

1) What is remineralization, and how does it affect tooth enamel? How does fluoride aid in remineralization, and what is the best way to get the fluoride you need? (By the way, ‘fluoride’ is tricky to spell. As a way to remember the ‘u-o’ order, just tell your teacher “If I spell fluoride right, ‘u-o’ (‘you owe’) me a treat!)
2) Tooth enamel is made of a calcium mineral called hydroxyapatite. What chemical reaction takes place when you use a fluoride toothpaste, and why is this beneficial?
3) Zinc is an essential mineral in our diet. Why do men need more zinc in their diet than women? Why might a vegetarian be at risk for not getting enough zinc?
4) Why is vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient, highly dangerous in large doses?
5) Under what conditions does the iron-containing protein hemoglobin carry oxygen in the red blood cells? What conditions cause hemoglobin to release(not carry) oxygen?
6) What is the metal atom in Vitamin B-12? Why is the molecular structure of Vitamin B-12 unique among biological molecules?

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

NOW! It's time to look at what you eat and to decide if you are in balance. Get together with your lab group, and compare your diet log. Are you getting enough of all the nutrients you need? What foods do you need eat more often? What are you eating too much of?

Compare with your lab group and come up with a good analysis for each person.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to this particular person or organization.

2. Give background information that shows you understand the topic.

STATE THE TASK / QUEST(ION) AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.

3. Each person in your group should write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point).

4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format and make sure you have correctly addressed the email message. Use the link below to make contact. Send your message and make sure your teacher gets a copy.

Your Contact is: the designated contact



Conclusion

Now you've reached the most important part. Answer the following questions on your student worksheets:

What have you learned from this WebQuest? Do you feel more informed about general nutrition? What have you learned about your nutrition? What was the most interesting thing you learned from this WebQuest?

You've come a long way. Hopefully, you have a much better idea about what to eat and why to eat it.

created by Filamentality Content by PDL UMass, mcconnaughey@norwellschools.org
http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/webwhatyouepd.html
Last revised Mon Mar 8 8:32:01 US/Pacific 2004