Columbia University Dining

C.R.O.W.N. Nutrition

C.R.O.W.N. Nutrition

Nutrition Resources

How to Analyze your Nutritional Intake

Analyze your diet:

The American Dietetics Association and the American Heart Association recommend a diet that is low in fat, high in carbohydrate, and moderate in protein. In concrete terms, you should be getting 30% or less of your calories from fat, 50-60% from carbohydrate, and 15-20% from protein. Have you ever wondered how your daily diet compares to these standards? Below are some web sites where you can determine your daily calorie needs and analyze your diet to see just how healthy you are! 

The USDA standard reference database includes all basics from the food groups but also list many brand name foods you may encounter: www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search

 

See what your eating at your favorite fast food restaurant at Calorie King online!

Or do a more detailed log of your dietary intake using the USDA's food tracker program! http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov/

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The consumer market overflows with publications on nutrition, fitness and health. The publications listed on the American Dietetic Association (ADA) website represent resources covering a broad range of nutrition and health topics and provide reliable, timely nutrition information!

So, if you are on the search for good nutrition books, check out The ADA's Good Nutrition Reading List!

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General Information

  • The Mayo Clinic: a reliable source for basic health and nutrition information from explanations of basic terms to analysis of weight-loss surgeries to connections between nutrition and disease prevention. Check out the "Food & Nutrition" section and "Healthy Recipes".
  • International Food Information Council: funded by a broad base of food, beverage and agricultural industries, IFIC provides fact-sheets, Q&A's, reviews and brochures for consumers. Check out their bi-monthly newsletter, Food Insight.
  • American Dietetic Association: the largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, the ADA's main site offers consumers information on government policy, daily food habits and dietetics as a career.
  • American Institute for Cancer Research: focuses on fostering diet and nutrition research and educating the public. Under "Information Services" or "Press Corner", you can submit questions to their RD, browse recipes, read weekly columns or scan their quarterly newsletter.
  • American Society for Nutrition Education: is a premier research society dedicated to improving the quality of life through the science of nutrition.
  • Vegetarian Resource Group: a highly-rated and reliable resource for anyone interested in vegetarian or vegan diets, with nutrition info, recipes, an online restaurant guide and an e-mail newsletter.

Nutrition Info & Guidelines:

"Topics A-Z" or "Consumer Corner" for information on all your nutrition questions, from sports nutrition to weight management - check out The American Dietetic Assocation and the USDA's Food and Nutrition Information Center.

International Dietary Guidelines:

Links to various international nutrition resources - www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/etext/000039.html

Miscellaneous Nutrition Topics:

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Government-Sponsored Sites

  • MyPyramid.gov: the new food pyramid; customize it to your needs and tastes through in-depth diet assessment.
  • Dietary Guidelines: just updated for 2005 with a wealth of detail, including recommendations for specific groups; select the theme of your choice using the convenient chapter structure.
  • USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center: fully searchable databases with links to food composition sources, info about the dietary guidelines, and other consumer and educational info.
  • Nutrition.gov: an index of links to governmental websites containing information related to food and nutrition; try the advanced search for detailed topics.
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    Periodicals

  • Nutrition Action Newsletter: the Center for Science in the Public Interest's agenda is to provide objective research and represent citizen's interests and, despite an obvious bias, their newsletter is a reliable source of amusing and useful information.
  • Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter: highly readable short articles on hot topics in the nutrition world, interesting blurbs, recipes and Q&A's; full text available to CU students through Proquest.
  • Vegetarian Times Magazine Online: a good source of basic information on how to transition to or maintain a healthy vegetarian diet.
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    Ecology and Justice

  • Sustainable Table: a fun and comprehensive website run by the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment explores issues around sustainability and offers practical tips on how to increase sustainable food practices.
  • Columbia Food Sustainability Project Blog: Columbia's own student group working with Dining Services to integrate more local and sustainable food.
  • Make Trade Fair: explains the issues around trade fair, as well as Oxfam's campaign to increase it.
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    Recipes

  • AllRecipes.com: a broad recipe site searchable by a wide variety of criteria; try "Healthy Living" or "Quick & Easy".
  • Delicious Decisions: the American Heart Association's online cookbook that includes nutritional information.
  • Cook it Quick!: advice and easy recipes from the University of Nebraska.
  • Recipe and Meal Planning Guide: National Diabetes Education Program
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