Dietetics/Nutritional Science Major here...ask away!

javagirl87 · 04-24-2008, 09:16 AM

I'm a Dietetics/Nutritional Science major at UW-Madison and if anyone has any questions about food/cooking/helath feel free to ask me! I really want to help people with any questions they have and I think it'll help me study for my classes as well :-P

**Opunaya** · 04-24-2008, 10:12 AM

Why don't you make an intro thread first?

I'll think up some actual health questions later...hmm...well, are smoothies really that good for you? Or is it a trick?

Ol' Patty · 04-24-2008, 12:16 PM

Nutrition is something I am very interested in. Unfortunately I haven't really had the time to do more than dabble in it. As a vegan this is of particular concern for me, although I base my diet around common sense, I don't really have the knowledge to back it up.

So my question is this: What foods should I be basing my diet around, what quantities, and why? I know its a bit of a broad question but I will get a little more specific once I learn more. And if nothing else it will make you do research

.

And yes, you really should make a introduction thread in the Newbies forum.

javagirl87 · 04-24-2008, 02:21 PM

ahhh yes i used to be a vegetarian...surprisingly people don't realize that what they DO eat has a lot of protein in it even if it's not meat. I'd most concerned with, if i were a vegan, getting enough calcium (which will be fine if you have almond milk or soymilk etc.) and iron, b12 and b6. The b vitamins unfortunately come mostly from animal foods...so usually vegans/vegetarians have to end up taking a B-complex vitamin supplement.

To start off i would ask if you've ever used mypyramid.gov? i find it extremely helpful for figuring out what you're actually getting in the day and it tells you what more you need! you can get an account (this site is USDA based) and you put in your daily food and intake (pretty much liek a food journal). it calculates everything for you, tells you what you've gotten in the day versus what you should be getting so you can see how much you're off by.

I hope this helps! if you have any other specific questions feel free to ask.

p.s. i started a newbie thread!

Ol' Patty · 04-24-2008, 07:27 PM

Yeah, I appreciate it. I supplement my calcium, b12 and b6 with fortified soymilk so I believe I am fine in that regard. What about the deal with complex proteins? To my understanding, you need whole grain proteins and legume proteins to complete them. Is this true?

And something I have always been confused over: What about bread(whole wheat) and pasta products(same)? I consume a lot of breads for the carbohydrates. Are there any potential health benefits or risks I should be aware of regarding bread products? I hope to me making my own bread in the future. Home made bread is the best!

**Ristaron** · 04-24-2008, 08:00 PM

Why do people insist on eating bucketloads of deep fried shit and then stuff themselves full of antacids and heartburn medications so that they can go through the whole fiasco again?

Ol' Patty · 04-24-2008, 08:08 PM

That is easy. Instant gratification.

**Ristaron** · 04-24-2008, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol' Patty

That is easy. Instant gratification.

Yeah, it was a rhetorical question...