Lum Chun Fai (3O1 21)Teo Wei Jie (3O1 32)

Biology Problem-based Learning

TASKA well balanced diet is necessary for the proper

growth and development of the body, especially so for the growing and active adolescent boys in our school. However, a balanced diet is not always easily available as some students in school choose their food based on the shortest queues and hence neglect their health and nutritional requirements.

Overview: To identify, examine and propose improvements to the dietary needs of a specific group of HCI students.

Target StudentsAthletes/ SportsmenStudents in Sports EP3 Students who enjoy playing sportsE.g. Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Table

Tennis

Sportsmen’s Dietary NeedsTeenagers, age: 13-16Athletes in Hwa Chong are usually very busy

with extracurricular activities in school. Calcium, proteins, carbohydrates and fats are

especially important in their diet. Athletes may need an increased caloric

intake to provide you with energy for extra physical activity.

Good nutrition is especially important for those who participate in vigorous physical activities: (1) it helps us to achieve our maximum

performance (2) it helps us to develop good eating habits

for later life.

Sportsmen’s Dietary NeedsCalcium

Dairy foods, low fat milk, yogurt, and cheese, are important sources of calcium

Calcium is necessary for proper muscle function.

ProteinsProteins are also required to produce hormones

that help to co-ordinate certain bodily activities.Structural proteins like Collagens provide

support for connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments, which can be injured easily.

Can be found in meat, seafood, farm products, fish.

Sportsmen’s Dietary NeedsCarbohydrates

Carbohydrates are easily broken down to glucose in your body and used for energy or they are converted to glycogen and stored for later use.

An athlete requires a lot of energy to keep the body going

Sources of carbohydrates : rice, wheat, grain food, potato, tapioca, corn.

FatsFats are used as energy during prolonged exercise.However, fats should not be taken in large

amounts as it causes many health problems like obesity and heart diseases.

Sources of Fats: Butter, Lard, Marine oil, Margarine, Cooking oil, Salad oil.

Stall AnalysisThe Western Food StallChicken Chop Fish Cutlet

Chicken ChopEnergy /kcal 243

Protein/g 26

Total fat /g -Saturated fat /g -

145.3

Cholesterol/ mg 105

Calcium / mg 15

Iron /mg 1.17

Protein is the secondary source of energy and athletic activity does not greatly increase protein intake. This meal provides a lot of protein. These proteins can be used to synthesize protoplasm for growth and repair of body cells, enzymes and some types of hormones. Most importantly, it is used for the formation of antibiotics to combat diseases.However, excessive protein can hinder athletic performance. After they are broken down, toxic waste by-products are produced. This meal also contains much fat. Excessive fats would result in obesity.

Fish CutletEnergy /kcal 850

Protein/g 29

Total fat /g -Saturated fat /g -

4720.1

Dietary fibre /g 4.6

Cholesterol /mg 121

Calcium /mg 70

Iron /mg 3.22

This meal also provides a lot of protein, fats and also a high level of cholesterol. Frequently eating high cholesterol foods would result in arteriosclerosis, a narrowing of the arteries by deposits of plaque. This causes the heart to pump the blood harder and the blood pressure to rise. High blood pressure also poses many health risks like stroke or kidney failure. On the other hand, this meal has a high amount of iron. Iron can use to manufacture certain enzymes which are involved in cellular respiration and also form hemoglobin.

Stall AnalysisIs these meals suitable for this group of

students?I think these meals are not very suitable for this group

of students due to their high fat content and cholesterol levels.

These substances would lead to chronic illnesses in the future if eaten in excess.

However, these meals are good sources for providing iron and protein. Since this group of students are involved in sports, they are physically active and would burn fats easily during vigorous training.

In all, we think these meals providing in the canteen could be improved.

New and Improved !As you all know currently the dishes in the

Western Food stall comes with a side item (Crabstick/ Sausage).

1) We would keep the main item( chicken chop/fish cutlet) the same as these are what that attracts the students.

2) We would replace the side item with Salad and BroccoliGreen vegetables like broccoli which provides

vitamin C. If your diet is low in vitamin C, you might develop joints that swell and hurt, weak muscles, internal bleeding, and defects in your bones.

New and Improved !!3) We would also add in fruits that would make the

dish healthier. The fruits would be change daily to provide a wide variety of fruits. Apple - It improves the functions of kidneys and eases

kidney activities. Apple is also good for digestion problems.

Orange-It helps to whooping cough, flu and heart diseases. It protects and decreases the risk of paralysis.

CostThe cost would be around the same and affordable as

we are just replacing the items.

ComparisonThe original dish consists of fish cutlet and the

chicken chop only (mainly meat) but OUR meal provides meat with vegetables and also fruits.

Basically, our meal contains more vitamin C, iron and dietary fibre.

Vitamin C aids in collagen synthesis, acts as an anti-oxidant, helps to detox and improve iron absorption!

Iron is essential in the formation of haemoglobin and enzymes which are involved in cellular respiration.

ComparisonCompared to the original meal, our meal is

much healthier and much more balanced. This can be seen from the food pyramid

whereby fats, oil, salts and meat are required in smaller amounts compared to vegetables, fruits and carbohydrates.

Dietary fibre also helps to push food through the human digestive system, absorbing water in the large intestine and ease defecation.

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rition.htm http://www.nutrition.sg/index.html http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/4ia/4ia02po/4ia02po.pdf http://www.healthmad.com/Nutrition/Benefits-of-Fruits-1.2

40121 http://images.google.com.sg/images?gbv=2&hl=en&sa=1

&q=rice&aq=f&oq http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_fiber http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron http://www.freedomfly.net/Articles/Nutrition/nutrition4.htm http://www.oldcastlefarm.com/images/

cartoon_chicken(2).jpg http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/

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