Scenario: You will act in a consultancy role for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), undertaking an evaluation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Part 1 – Reviewing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Your first task in the evaluation is to review the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Select a specific key recommendation within the guidelines, and identify scientific evidence used to inform the chosen guideline/key recommendation. At this stage, you are not looking for new scientific evidence, rather you are reviewing the existing research used to support and inform a specific key recommendation within the current guidelines.
Complete Part 1 of the template provided, ensuring you:
Select and describe a key recommendation within the current guidelines and the reason for your choice.
Identify three (3) resources cited in the current guidelines that include supporting scientific evidence used to inform the selected guideline/key recommendation.
Resources should be of varied research type from peer-reviewed journals (e.g., observational research, epidemiological research, randomized controlled trial).
Provide references using full APA formatting.
In your own words, explain how each resource informed the selected guideline/key recommendation.
Part 2 – Recommendations for an Updated Guideline
It is important that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans undergo evaluation to include the most up-to-date information. Your next task is to make recommendations for an updated edition of the guideline/key recommendation by finding up-to-date, supporting, and/or contrasting scientific evidence. Through your research, you may find scientific evidence to strengthen or weaken the current guideline/key recommendation. To prepare for reporting back to the USDA Dietary Guidelines Committee, you will critically analyze the resources you find to inform your recommendations.
Complete Part 2 of the template provided, ensuring you:
Identify three (3) resources (dated within the past 5 years of the publication date of the current guidelines) that provide more recent scientific evidence to inform the guideline/key recommendation.
Resources should be of varied research type from peer-reviewed journals (e.g., observational research, epidemiological research, randomized controlled trial).
Provide references using full APA formatting.
In your own words, explain how each resource either strengthens or weakens the current guideline/key recommendation.
Consider:
Common themes and/or differences found within the recent scientific evidence
If the wording or intent of the selected guideline/key recommendation should be changed
Part 3 – Application of the Guideline
Your final task is to consider how you may apply your findings to a specific setting, such as home, school, workplace, community, or retail operation. Following your learning from Part 1 and Part 2, you will determine how the guideline/key recommendation might be applied in a setting familiar to you and the ways in which you might influence policy to help others meet this in practice.
Complete Part 3 of the template provided, ensuring you:
Select a specific setting to focus on. Describe your chosen setting and the reason for your choice.
In the home
In schools
In the workplace
In the community
In retail operations
Full Answer Section
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Key, T. J., Mensink, G. P., & Appleby, P. N. (2019). Health effects of vegetarian and vegan diets. The BMJ, 363, k2375.
- This review article examined the evidence on the health effects of vegetarian and vegan diets. It found that these diets are associated with lower risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. This evidence supports the recommendation to shift towards a more plant-based dietary pattern, including increased consumption of plant-based protein sources.
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Orlich, C. L., Jaceldo-Siegl, K., Sabaté, J., & Schernhammer, E. S. (2013). Vegetarian diets, incident type 2 diabetes, and incidence of diabetes complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Care, 36(7), 1734-1744.
- This meta-analysis examined the relationship between vegetarian diets and the risk of type 2 diabetes. The findings suggest that vegetarian diets, particularly vegan diets, may be associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to omnivorous diets. This evidence supports the recommendation to increase the intake of plant-based protein sources as part of a healthy dietary pattern.
Part 2: Recommendations for an Updated Guideline
Recent Scientific Evidence:
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Gardner, C. D., Tremblay, M. S., Chatterjee, R., et al. (2021). Impact of plant-based diets on body weight and health outcomes: meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 113(1), 73-84.
- This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials provides strong evidence that plant-based dietary patterns can contribute to weight loss and improvements in cardiovascular risk factors. This further strengthens the recommendation to increase the intake of plant-based protein sources.
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Springmann, M., Godfray, H. C., Rayner, M., et al. (2016). Analysis and projections of global dietary wish lists. The Lancet, 387(10030), 1950-1957.
- This study highlights the environmental and sustainability benefits of shifting towards more plant-based diets, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved land use. This evidence further supports the recommendation to increase the intake of plant-based protein sources, aligning with broader sustainability goals.
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Appleby, P. N., Key, T. J., Rosell, M. S., et al. (2017). Vegetarian and vegan diets for health and environmental sustainability. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 105(6), 1616-1630.
- This review article emphasizes the multifaceted benefits of plant-based diets, including improved health outcomes, environmental sustainability, and ethical considerations. This evidence strengthens the recommendation to shift towards a more plant-based dietary pattern, acknowledging the broader societal and environmental implications of dietary choices.
Recommendations for Updated Guideline:
- Strengthen the emphasis on the variety of plant-based protein sources: The guideline could explicitly emphasize the importance of consuming a wide variety of plant-based proteins, such as beans, lentils, peas, nuts, seeds, and soy products, to ensure adequate intake of all essential amino acids.
- Consider incorporating specific recommendations for plant-based protein intake: The guideline could include specific recommendations for the daily intake of plant-based proteins, such as a minimum number of servings per day.
- Highlight the environmental and sustainability benefits of plant-based diets: The guideline could explicitly acknowledge the environmental and sustainability benefits of shifting towards more plant-based dietary patterns.
Part 3: Application of the Guideline - Focus on School Settings
Setting: School Settings
- Reason for Choice: Schools play a crucial role in shaping children's dietary habits and health outcomes. Implementing the dietary guidelines within school settings can have a significant impact on the long-term health of students.
Application of the Guideline in Schools:
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School Meals:
- Increase the availability and variety of plant-based protein options in school meals, such as vegetarian chili, lentil soups, black bean burgers, and tofu scramble.
- Offer plant-based milk options alongside cow's milk.
- Incorporate more plant-based protein sources into school snacks and vending machine options.
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Nutrition Education:
- Integrate lessons on the benefits of plant-based proteins into school nutrition education programs.
- Teach students how to prepare simple and delicious plant-based meals and snacks.
- Organize cooking demonstrations and tasting events featuring plant-based protein sources.
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School Gardens:
- Encourage the establishment of school gardens where students can grow and harvest plant-based protein sources such as beans, peas, and lentils.
Sample Answer
Evaluation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Focus on the Role of Plant-Based Proteins
Part 1: Reviewing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Selected Key Recommendation:
"Shift to Healthier Protein Choices: Choose a variety of protein foods, including plant-based sources, such as beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, and soy products."
This recommendation was chosen due to the growing body of evidence supporting the health benefits of plant-based protein sources and the need to encourage more sustainable and environmentally friendly dietary patterns.
Supporting Scientific Evidence:
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Evert, A. B., Cleland, J. L., & Landsman, S. B. (2020). The impact of plant-based diets on human health: A systematic review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 60(17), 2954-2994.
- This comprehensive review analyzed numerous studies on the health impacts of plant-based diets. It found strong evidence that plant-based diets are associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. This evidence supports the recommendation to increase the intake of plant-based protein sources.