THE PROJECT: Students purchase three “whole foods” … one fruit or vegetable, one grain (bread, cereal, oats, pasta, etc.), and one meat item (or meat replacer, if you are a vegetarian). Then, purchase a “processed food” that is made with the same whole food ingredients. For three consecutive days, create a dish with your whole food using a recipe that is similar to the processed food and consume them at the same time.

Example: Day 1, brown rice and beans vs frozen rice bowl with brown rice and beans; Day 2, chicken, fresh chicken fajitas versus frozen chicken fajitas; Day 3, tomato, salsa prepared with fresh tomato vs canned salsa.
YOUR TASK:

First, describe the differences between the whole food items and the processed food items. Consider taste and flavor, texture, color, nutritional value, etc. (1-2 pages). Students must discuss each whole food, processed food comparison.
Next, address the new healthy you. Talk about any transformations in your perception about food and your diet that may have materialized because of the information gained in this class. This section is personalized to you and your choices about maintaining or gaining a healthier life style. Please address this question: Has the class caused you to appreciate new foods or the idea of specialized diets as a way to maintain health? (1-2 pages) NOTE: Be authentic here, if you already were a healthy eater and the materials in this course reinforced your dietary choices, say so. If you have not changed your diet much, say that. Be honest, but think about the materials that were presented in the course in the context of your life.
Lastly, deal with a contemporary topic related to information discussed in the movies or presented in the class. Topics can include anything from food policy, world health, organic foods, farming practices, chronic disease, etc. Please pick any topic of interest to you. This project is exploratory in nature, so find something and learn about it. Make reference to material covered in class plus at least two external sources. (1-3 pages)