Peer Influence and Food

Purpose: Evaluate how social and cultural influences affect a person’s individual food choices.

Assignment Objective: Differentiate between healthy and unhealthy food messages. (MLO 1)

Outcomes: 
1. Analyze a social media advertisement/post for cultural relevancy.
2. Compare cultural food advertisement against evidence-based criteria (USDA guidelines).
3. Formulate evidence-based recommendations for appropriate modification of food product as it relates to nutritional needs and culture.

Instructions: For this project, students will identify and analyze a culturally influenced social media food post. This post should aim to target a specific ethnic group discussed in Module Two (i.e. Central Europe, etc.) In a report, students are required to assess the post, comparing the food/meal to the culture of origin based on the readings assigned to you in your textbook. Students will assess who the target audience is, how the food is being marketed to that audience, and describe the goal of the post. Students are also required to evaluate the nutritional qualities of the food/meal based on the My Plate GuidelinesLinks to an external site https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/what-is-myplate . After analysis, students will suggest modifications to the food/meal post based on USDA guidelines to improve health outcomes while maintaining the ethnic elements of the dish.

Please answer the following as you assess the post:

1. Where was the food advertisement/post placed (i.e. magazine/social media page/website/etc.)? Was the target audience for the advertisement European? How can you tell?  What does the post want you to do? Does it lead you to a website, tell you to purchase a product, etc.?
2. What ethnic culture is being represented in the social media food post? How is this demonstrated? What relevancy does this food/meal have on the defined culture?
3. How does the food/meal remain true to the defined culture? How does it differ? Has the traditional food/meal been altered in any way that is not true to the culture? If so, how and what was the intended purpose of this modification?
4. Would you consider this food/meal healthy? Why or why not? How does this food/meal compare to the USDA My Plate Guidelines?
5. How would you modify the food/meal to increase health outcomes, bearing in mind the culture of where the dish originated? What fruits, vegetables, etc. that are true to the culture of origin could you include?

You will turn in a written report that includes:

1. The original post you analyzed. The post should be included in your report as an image and is NOT considered part of your word count.
2.  A written report of your assessment. Be sure to respond to the questions addressed above and at least two to three suggestions to improve health quality utilizing USDA Guidelines.