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Changing American Food Trends

Changing American Food Trends

Conny Ort

NormalCommunityHigh School

Summer 2005

Library of Congress, Prints &Photographs

Division, FSA-OWI Collection

The American diet has transformed itself from eating homegrown fruits and vegetables into eating convenience and fast foods. Look down any street in hometown, USA and you will see a variety of fast food chains enticing you to frequent their establishment. How has this affected the American diet? With each passing year American adults are becoming more obese. This trend has now transcended to our children. Children are more overweight than ever. What has contributed toward this trend?

Overview/State Standards/Resources/Procedures/Evaluation

Overview Back to Navigation Bar
Objectives / Students will:
  • Explain how the changing diet of Americans has affected their daily lives.
  • Apply the knowledge learned in creating a dietary poster depicting healthier eating habits.
  • Will theorize how the American diet will continue to evolve into the next century.

Recommended time frame / Five 50 minute class periods
Grade level / 9th – 12th
Curriculum fit / Science, Foods/Nutrition
Resources /
  • Imagetable
  • Interview
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Past 500 hundred years website
  • Rubric for assessment of oral presentation
  • Recipes
  • Assessment

IllinoisStateLearning Standards Back to Navigation Bar
Language Arts:
GOAL 3: Write to communicate for a variety of purposes
  • 3.C. Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.
GOAL 5: Use the language arts to acquire, assess and communicate information.
  • 5.B.Analyze and evaluate information from various sources.
Social Studies:
GOAL 16: Understand events, trends, individuals and movements shaping the history of Illinois, the United States and other nations.
  • 16.A. Apply the skills of historical analysis and interpretation

Procedures Back to Navigation Bar
Day One:
  • Students will be given 2-3 minutes to reflect on their own eating choices. They are to write down on a piece of paper what types of foods do they enjoy eating? This will be shared with the class. Have a student record the answers on the board. Next, have students imagine what food would have been available a hundred years ago. Would the same foods have been available during that time period? Have students explain their answers. Introduce the topic of discussion by showing PowerPoint presentation.
Day Two:
  • Students will be introduced to the Library of Congress website. In the website we will listen to an interviewgiven by a grocer who has seen first hand the changes in food trends. We will also visit the website that depicts the history of food over the past 500 hundred years. After viewing this website students will brainstorm ideas as to what the future food trends may be. Working in groups of 3 or 4 students will brainstorm ideas as to what the future food trends will be over the next hundred years. Once the students have narrowed down their ideas to one idea they will create a visual aid of their choice (poster, brochure, power point, etc.) following the rubric for assessment. Students will be given the balance this class period and the next. Students will present their projects at the beginning of class period on day 4.
Day Three:
  • Students will have the duration of this class period to create their visual aid of future food trends. If students are finished prior to the end of class, groups will begin their presentations.
Day Four:
  • Students, in their groups, will present their visual aid if not completed during the previous class period. Once presentations are done, students will create a poster depicting healthier eating habits that is prevalent to their lives and those of their peers. This poster must include food choices but can also include lifestyles, exercise and any other items of importance. Once completed students will tape their posters on the display area in classroom.
Day Five:
  • Students will work in the food lab this day preparing two different recipes. Half of the kitchens will be given a Depression era cake recipe to bake. The other half will be given a recipe that has been adapted with healthier ingredients. Students will compare the two finished products and will complete a brief reaction to the recipes for assessment.

Evaluation Back to Navigation Bar
  • Assessment

An Adventure of the American Mind

IllinoisStateUniversity