NUTRITION WGU EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Explain what is meant by "nutrition" according to national standards - Answer-Nutrition
is the study of nutrients and the processes by which they are used by the body (Healthy
people 2010 and 2020)
Analyze why nutrition is important to health - Answer-We need nutrition to provide
energy and to help regulate body processes and aid in our growth and repair
Identify the 6 classes of nutrients essential for health - Answer-1. Carbohydrates
2. Proteins
3. Minerals
4. Lipids
5. Vitamins
6.Water
Recognize the key energy nutrients essential for health - Answer-Proteins
Fats
Carbohydrates
(major sources of energy)
Classify the components of a healthy diet - Answer-Adequate amounts of fiber
Balance choices
Calorie control
Eat in moderation
Add variety (make sure you are meeting all your nutritional needs)
Identify the standard dietary references intakes (DRI) for nutrients. - Answer-1. Estimate
average requirements (used in research and policy making)
2. RDA (recommended dietary allowances) nutrient intake goals (eg.Vitamin C
requirements)
Tolerable upper intake levels(this tells us when we are getting to a toxic level of
nutrients)
Analyze how the dietary guidelines for Americans can be used to design a healthy diet.
- Answer-Variety
Recommended amounts of carbohydrates
fats, and proteins
Identify how to choose healthy options based on the "Plate Method" of healthy eating -
Answer-"Plate Method" of healthy eating.
The recommendations follow 4 themes:
1. Variety - Eat foods from all food groups and subgroups.
, 2. Proportionality - Eat more of some foods and less of others. (less fats, more veggies
and fruits)
3. Moderation - Choose types of foods that limit intake of saturated or trans fats, added
sugars, cholesterol, salt and alcohol.
4. Activity - Be physically active every day.
Analyze how government health initiatives can be used to design a healthy diet -
Answer-1. Starting in 1979 - Healthy People initiatives. Updated every 10 yrs.
Objectives focus on prevention efforts. Also the interrelatedness of the health of
communities and individuals is emphasized.
2. The National Nutrition Monitoring Act of 1990 - Provides a collaboration among
government organizations that conduct national surveys of the nations health and
nutritional status.
3. U.S. Governments Food Stamp Program - Provides individuals and families below
certain income levels with coupons to purchase nutritious foods.
4. Special supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) - Provides
nutrition counseling, supplemental foods, and referrals to other health care and social
services to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and to infants and children up to
age 5 who are at nutritional risks.
5. Government agencies and voluntary health and scientific associations address the
issue of the link of chronic illness to the excessive intake of certain nutrients (American
Heart Assoc., American Cancer Society)
6. U.S Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
developed dietary guidelines for Americans in 1977. These are updated every 5 yrs and
are intended for healthy Americans older than age 2.
7. Current Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 - focuses on goals of "good health
and optimal functionality across the lifespan" with considerations of malnutrition and
weight issues of the population at large.
Recognize the ethnic variations of My Pyramind - Answer-Alternative and ethnic food
pyramids are available, providing specific food selections conforming to the general
pyramid categories. They recognize that traditional dietary patterns of other cultures
also offer opportunities to decrease the risk of diet related disorders. The Asian,
Mediterranean and Latin American Pyramids differ from "My Pyramid" in the number of
servings of animal foods, legumes, nuts and seeds recommended. Vegetarian and Soul
food pyramids have been created as well. Other countries have food guides reflecting
their national food supply, food consumption patterns, and nutritional status. All
pyramids differ in some ways, but ALL recommend similar distributions of food category
servings.
Determine the nutritional adequacy of a given food using the nutrition facts panel and
relate that to a healthy diet - Answer-100 % divided by the percentage of any given
ingredient listed (eg Contains 3% of recommended daily amount of vitamin C) So 100 /
3%.= the number of servings of that product you would need to eat to reach your daily
needs of that ingredient.
AND ANSWERS
Explain what is meant by "nutrition" according to national standards - Answer-Nutrition
is the study of nutrients and the processes by which they are used by the body (Healthy
people 2010 and 2020)
Analyze why nutrition is important to health - Answer-We need nutrition to provide
energy and to help regulate body processes and aid in our growth and repair
Identify the 6 classes of nutrients essential for health - Answer-1. Carbohydrates
2. Proteins
3. Minerals
4. Lipids
5. Vitamins
6.Water
Recognize the key energy nutrients essential for health - Answer-Proteins
Fats
Carbohydrates
(major sources of energy)
Classify the components of a healthy diet - Answer-Adequate amounts of fiber
Balance choices
Calorie control
Eat in moderation
Add variety (make sure you are meeting all your nutritional needs)
Identify the standard dietary references intakes (DRI) for nutrients. - Answer-1. Estimate
average requirements (used in research and policy making)
2. RDA (recommended dietary allowances) nutrient intake goals (eg.Vitamin C
requirements)
Tolerable upper intake levels(this tells us when we are getting to a toxic level of
nutrients)
Analyze how the dietary guidelines for Americans can be used to design a healthy diet.
- Answer-Variety
Recommended amounts of carbohydrates
fats, and proteins
Identify how to choose healthy options based on the "Plate Method" of healthy eating -
Answer-"Plate Method" of healthy eating.
The recommendations follow 4 themes:
1. Variety - Eat foods from all food groups and subgroups.
, 2. Proportionality - Eat more of some foods and less of others. (less fats, more veggies
and fruits)
3. Moderation - Choose types of foods that limit intake of saturated or trans fats, added
sugars, cholesterol, salt and alcohol.
4. Activity - Be physically active every day.
Analyze how government health initiatives can be used to design a healthy diet -
Answer-1. Starting in 1979 - Healthy People initiatives. Updated every 10 yrs.
Objectives focus on prevention efforts. Also the interrelatedness of the health of
communities and individuals is emphasized.
2. The National Nutrition Monitoring Act of 1990 - Provides a collaboration among
government organizations that conduct national surveys of the nations health and
nutritional status.
3. U.S. Governments Food Stamp Program - Provides individuals and families below
certain income levels with coupons to purchase nutritious foods.
4. Special supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) - Provides
nutrition counseling, supplemental foods, and referrals to other health care and social
services to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and to infants and children up to
age 5 who are at nutritional risks.
5. Government agencies and voluntary health and scientific associations address the
issue of the link of chronic illness to the excessive intake of certain nutrients (American
Heart Assoc., American Cancer Society)
6. U.S Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
developed dietary guidelines for Americans in 1977. These are updated every 5 yrs and
are intended for healthy Americans older than age 2.
7. Current Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 - focuses on goals of "good health
and optimal functionality across the lifespan" with considerations of malnutrition and
weight issues of the population at large.
Recognize the ethnic variations of My Pyramind - Answer-Alternative and ethnic food
pyramids are available, providing specific food selections conforming to the general
pyramid categories. They recognize that traditional dietary patterns of other cultures
also offer opportunities to decrease the risk of diet related disorders. The Asian,
Mediterranean and Latin American Pyramids differ from "My Pyramid" in the number of
servings of animal foods, legumes, nuts and seeds recommended. Vegetarian and Soul
food pyramids have been created as well. Other countries have food guides reflecting
their national food supply, food consumption patterns, and nutritional status. All
pyramids differ in some ways, but ALL recommend similar distributions of food category
servings.
Determine the nutritional adequacy of a given food using the nutrition facts panel and
relate that to a healthy diet - Answer-100 % divided by the percentage of any given
ingredient listed (eg Contains 3% of recommended daily amount of vitamin C) So 100 /
3%.= the number of servings of that product you would need to eat to reach your daily
needs of that ingredient.
