PCQ 5

Chapter 7

 

            There is no longer just one food pyramid for all; there are 12 individually tailored models for different age groups and men versus women. Along with these differing food pyramids, Oldways Preservation and Exchange Trust of Cambridge, MA developed food pyramids for different cultural groups including; Mediterranean, Asian, and Latino Diet Pyramids that incorporate habits of various cultural groups in the United States.

            The main difference between these pyramids and the standard USDA Pyramid is that the culturally diverse pyramids illustrate proportions of food to be consumed and not exact serving sizes. Also, the Oldways pyramids show foods specific to the different cultures and suggest consumption amounts over a period of 2 to 3 days, weeks, or even months in contrast to the USDA guide. These different guides highlight the fact that what we often is deeply tied to our cultural background. Because the United States full of people from many various cultures, it is important to recognize the differences in health and diet among different cultures. What may be healthiest and best for one may not be for another because different cultures have different beliefs about what should be eaten.

 

Day 1:

 

Healthy Food Menus

 

            Breakfast:

                        -Bowl of Kashi “Go Lean Crunch” with a cup of skim milk ($4.00)

                        -1 Banana (.54 cents per pound)

                        -2 cups of Orange Juice ($1.89)

            Lunch:

-1 large salad with tomatoes, onions, romaine lettuce, cucumber slices, and low fat Italian dressing (about $6.00)

-1 granola bar (box = $5.26)

-2 cups of water apple juice ($1.89)

            Dinner:

-1 half-cup whole-wheat spaghetti with one-forth cup organic marinara sauce and two ounces ground turkey. ($3.19 + 6.95 + 8.89)

-2 cups cooked green vegetables such as asparagus, spinach or broccoli ($3.05)

Total = About $41.66

 

Junk Food Menu

           

            Breakfast:

                        -1 Pop-Tart ($3.09)

                        -1 Coca-Cola ($1.00)

            Lunch:

                        -1 Big Mac Meal with fries (5.99)

                        -1 Large Dr. Pepper ($1.00)

            Dinner:

                        -2 Hot Dogs ($4.32)

                        -Oreos ($3.06)

                        -2 Beers ($2.99)

Total = $21.45

 

Day 2:

 

Healthy Food Menu

 

            Breakfast:

                        -1 Bowl of Kashi “Go Lean Crunch”

                        -1 Banana

                        -One Cup of Orange Juice

            Lunch:

                        -1 Bowl of Amy’s Lentil Soup

                        -5-6 Wheat Thins with Humus

                        -1 Cup of V8 Juice

            Dinner:

                        -One Cup of Broccoli

                        -1 Chicken Breast

                        -One Cup of Organic Wild Grain Rice

                        -2 Cups of Water

 

Junk Food Menu

 

            Breakfast:

                        -2 Bowls of Capitan Crunch

                        -1 Coca Cola

            Lunch:

                        -6 Chicken Nuggets

                        -2 Servings of French Fries

                        -1 Cup of Soda

            Dinner:

                        -3 Beef Tacos

                        -Several Servings of Nachos

                        -2 Beers

 

Day 3:

 

Healthy Food Menu

 

            Breakfast:

                        -Organic Yogurt with Granola and Berries

                        -1 Cup of V8 Juice

            Lunch:

-Sandwich with whole wheat bread, low fat cheese, turkey, and light mayo

-1 Glass of Water

-1 Banana

            Dinner:

-Tofu stir-fry with organic frozen vegetables, silken tofu, and light teriyaki sauce

-1/2 Cup of white rice

-1 glass of red wine

 

Junk Food Menu

 

                        Breakfast:

                                    -2 Bowls of Capitan Crunch

                                    -1 Soda

                        Lunch:

                                    -2 Slices of pizza

                                    -3 pieces of garlic bread

                                    -1 Soda

                        Dinner:

                                    -1 Hamburger

                                    -6 cookies

                                    -1 Cup of water

 

Day 4:

 

Healthy Food Menu

 

            Breakfast:

                        -Organic yogurt with berries and granola

                        -1 cup of orange juice

            Lunch:

                        -Wheat thins with hummus

                        -1 Cup of Broccoli

                        -1 Cup of V8 Juice

            Dinner:

                        -1 Cup of green beans

                        -2 Servings of organic wild grain rice

                        -1 Chicken breast

                        -1 cup of water

           

 

Junk Food Menu

           

            Breakfast:

                        -2 Pop-Tarts

                        -1 Cup of water

            Lunch:

                        -Chicken Sandwich with mayo and white bread

                        -Large serving of French fries (about 1 cup)

                        -1 Soda

            Dinner:

                        -3 Slices of pizza

                        -5 Cookies

                        -1 cup of water

 

Day 5:

 

Healthy Food Menu

 

            Breakfast:

                        -1 Bowl of Kashi “Go Lean Crunch”

                        -1 Banana

            Lunch:

                        -1 Large Salad with low fat Italian dressing

                        -1 Organic granola bar

                        -1 Glass of V8 juice

            Dinner:

                        -1 Serving of whole grain pasta with low fat organic marinara sauce

                        -1 Cup of broccoli

                        -1 cup of skim milk

 

Junk Food Menu

           

            Breakfast:

                        -2 Pop Tarts

            Lunch:

                        -1 Big Mac Meal with Fries

                        -1 Milk Shake

            Dinner:

                        -3 Slices of Pizza

                        -2 Tacos

                        -1 Beer

 

Total for Healthy Food Menu = Around $208.03

 

Total for Junk Food Menu = Around $105.50

           

            It is clear that it is much more expensive to eat a healthy diet than a poor diet consisting of primarily junk food. It costs almost twice as much to eat healthy than to eat food of lower nutritional quality. It is obvious that although people of low socioeconomic status may want to make good food choices, it may not be possible for them to spend such a great amount of money on food for their family per week. With bills to pay and children to feed, it would be difficult for the lower class community to justify spending such an absurd amount of money on healthy, expensive food. Therefore, it makes sense that those of low SES are often unhealthy and in poor shape due to their diet made up primarily of junk food. It is important for these people to be educated on the importance of eating healthy and how it will greatly benefit themselves and their families. We should work to create healthy, low-cost menus for the lower class so that they can still eat properly while saving money. 

 

                                   

                       

 

PCQ 4

Chapter 5:

 

            The text defines coping styles as general predispositions to dealing with stress. It explains that there are two different types of coping styles to deal with stress: approach coping and avoidant coping. An individual can approach a stressor and make active efforts to resolve it or try to avoid the problem. The text describes another coping style called emotion-focused coping, which uses either mental or behavioral methods to deal with the feelings resulting from stress.

            In my demonstration of the main coping styles, person X is a 25-year-old man from Italy or low economic status. It would be optimal for person X to use approach coping to deal with paying his bills on time. It would be optimal for person X to deal with his child’s terminal illness at first by practicing avoidant or emotion-focused coping. As the textbook explains, it is best to match the type of coping you use with the situation and with your comfort level. Therefore, the best type of coping for one person or one situation may not necessarily be best for another.

 

           

            Experiential 5:

 

            For the people working at Aramark on campus, there may be different optimal stress management tactics that may make their lives at work less stressful and more enjoyable. Many of the Aramark employees on JMU’s campus come from various other countries from all over the world. The fact that many of them are new to the country and the English language may cause severe stress in the workplace. It is important for Aramark employers to understand the cultures that the employees come from to better help them with stress management.

            Social support is one of the most important factors in the study of stress and coping so it may be incredibly beneficial for Aramark employees to find support within the community of other workers who are likely to be coping with the same types of stressors. It make be helpful for Aramark employers to set up a support system for the employees and have several students or volunteers to help the employees who are new to the country get acclimated and comfortable in their new surroundings.