Research and Critical Review of Popular Diets

Background

The purpose of this paper is to research and critically review a popular diet. Your research from reliable sources will provide information about the diet. After completing your research, you will evaluate the diet with a guided critical review through the lens of Canada’s Food Guide and healthy eating patterns.

Assignment Instructions This is an academic paper and is to be written in essay format, with an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph. Instructions and requirements for the assignment are outlined below. Be sure to read the information carefully before starting to work on the assignment. Do not include the questions in your paper. Gather your information and complete this assignment in one cohesive essay.

You can organize the content of your essay as you choose. This means the questions do not need to be responded to in the order they appear. The content and ideas should flow in a logical order while ensuring each of the questions are addressed. Choose one of the following popular diets to research for this assignment:

1. Ketogenic (Keto) diet

2. Paleo diet

3. Intermittent fasting

4. Another popular diet with approval from professor in advance

I – Research

In your own words, write a summary of your research findings.

Your summary should include the following information:

1. The history of the diet and the main premise/goal of the diet. If possible, determine when/how it become popularized.

2. Why most people choose to follow the diet.

3. The types of foods that can be consumed and the types of foods that are not recommended for people following the diet.

4. The claimed benefits of following the diet.

5. Any concerns for following the diet in the long term (or short term).

II – Critically evaluate the diet

This portion of the assignment is your own opinion (drawing your own conclusions) based on the research you completed and your knowledge of Canada’s Food Guide. After researching the diet, respond to the following items as part of your critical review:

1. In your opinion, can the diet be (or is the diet meant to be) maintained long term as part of a healthy lifestyle? Provide two supporting points to explain your response.

2. How does the diet compare with the basic principles of healthy eating patterns recommended by Canada’s food guide, as follows:

a. Visually, 50% (½) of our plate should be vegetables and fruits

b. Visually, 25% (¼) of our plate should be whole grains

c. Visually, 25% (¼) of our plate should be from protein foods

d. Water should be our drink of choice

e. Intake of processed and especially ultra-processed foods should be limited In other words, does the diet you chose to evaluate result in similar intakes as recommended in Canada’s food guide? For example, does following the diet limit the intake of ultra-processed foods? Or, does following the diet result in consuming more vegetables and fruits than other types of foods (e.g. approximately 50% or more of our plate)?, etc.

NOTE: Visually means the intake of types of foods is based on what we see, not on calories. So, imagine all the food consumed in one day was set in front of you, would it visually look like 50% is vegetables and fruits, 25% is whole grain foods, and 25% is protein foods, with limited ultra-processed foods?

3. Do you think a person following the diet you researched would achieve the same goals as they would if they followed the principles of Canada’s food guide as part of a healthy lifestyle? Provide two supporting points to explain your response.

4. Which approach to healthy eating patterns do you think could be more easily maintained as part of a healthy lifestyle – the diet you have researched or the basic principles of Canada’s food guide? Provide two supporting points to explain your response.

NOTE: In addition to other outside sources, Canada’s Food Guide must be acknowledged through in-text citations and in the reference list for this assignment. Remember to include an introductory paragraph and a final concluding paragraph. Total word count: 1000 to 1600 words (This is a guideline; assignment is graded based on quality, rather than quantity)