Topic Overview

Concise Description and citing of at least 2 academic articles:

Health education is vital to everyone’s success. Education on what an appropriate diet consists of is necessary to see an overall growth of healthy relationships with food. Through social media and scientifically unsupported sources, there has been an unprecedented amount of encouragement towards dangerous dieting and fads. Oklahoma State University (Cena, H., & Calder, P. C., 2020) explains how fad diets contribute to increased body dissatisfaction, lower self-esteem, and lead to an increased risk of mortality, the development of eating disorders, impaired bone health, and infertility. Healthy food habits refer to well-balanced food intake and creating meals that emphasize proper diet, a comprehension of what you’re eating, and adaptability. These habits show massive health benefits. Research done by Cena, H., & Calder, P. C. (2020) helps link these dietary patterns to health “Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, obesity, and cognitive impairment are among the leading causes of death; indeed, the marked rise in chronic NCDs has a causal link to global dietary patterns.” The increased prevalence surrounding fad diets highlights the need for a balanced, evidence based approach to educating the population about nutrition. Lot’s of individuals are falling into this trap Canada’s Food Guide (2024) explains that a proper diet is not about eliminating specific foods but rather focusing on variety, balance, and moderation. By focusing on nourishment and not repression, individuals can create lifelong healthy habits that support both physical and mental health, reducing the risks with non-communicable diseases and disordered eating patterns.

This learning plan will equip students with the knowledge to make informed dietary choices, be able to debunk fad diets, and understand the nutritional benefits for long term health – understanding that is grounded in academic research and Canada’s food guides. This plan combines quizzes, meal plans, and a media presentation to reinforce learning. By fostering critical thinking and practical application, this resource promotes lifelong healthy habits and combats misinformation.

1-2 misconceptions about your topic. What do people usually misunderstand about it? What mistakes do they often make?:

One of the most prevalent misconceptions about living a healthy lifestyle is that fad diets offer a quick fix to health issues such as obesity, acne, and mood problems (Kumar & Docter, 2023). These claims are often not supported by research and generally have an extremist approach, meaning they tend to involve eating plenty of one thing or restricting too much of another. The issues with these approaches are that they are often not sustainable because they cut too many calories to support daily activities, create weight loss and weight gain cycles, and may create too much focus on food which interferes with enjoyment of other activities (Dixon & Doctor, 2023). Additionally, fad diets pose many potential health risks such as energy deprivation, inadequate nutrients, and a poor relationship with food. Another common misconception about achieving a healthy diet is eliminating ‘unhealthy’ foods entirely. Unfortunately, this often leads to many adverse health effects and cycles of guilt, overeating, and general stress about food. Again, this extreme approach does not promote long-term health or sustainability (Kumar & Docter, 2023). 

Rather than these restrictive and extreme methods for creating a healthy lifestyle, Canada’s Food Guide (2024) recommends striving for balance and aiming to prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods. An important consideration is that there is no “one-size-fits-all”; and rather, individuals have different goals, preferences, and lifestyles. Therefore, one should focus on enjoying their food, forming good habits, and maintaining overall health to achieve what works for them.

A rationale for developing your learning resource based on this topic. What is it about this topic in particular that is of interest to you?:

The rise of fad diets, often promoted through social media and other non-expert sources, has become a significant concern in today’s society. These diets claim to provide quick fixes for weight loss or health improvement but are rarely sustainable and can even be harmful (Sciarrillo et al., 2020). Many individuals, particularly younger people who are more engaged with social media, struggle to critically assess dietary information, making them vulnerable to these misleading claims. This is why the development of this learning resource is essential. It addresses a critical gap in nutritional literacy, equipping learners with the skills to recognize the dangers of fad diets and make evidence-based decisions about their diet.

The topic is particularly important because unqualified sources often promote restrictive eating practices that prioritize short-term results over long-term health. Inadequate understanding of nutrition can lead to unhealthy relationships with food and increase the risk of chronic health conditions. By promoting the importance of balanced and sustainable eating habits, this resource aims to counter these harmful trends and encourage a more mindful approach to food. Canada’s Food Guide (2024) underscores the importance of eating habits that are not only nutritious but also enjoyable and sustainable. It challenges the notion of careless restriction, emphasizing that long-term well-being is best supported through balanced eating. This learning resource aligns with that approach, helping learners apply credible knowledge in practical ways, such as through meal planning activities. By teaching critical thinking and providing tools to assess nutritional information, it empowers individuals to make decisions that foster long-term health and well-being.

Learning Design

Time to complete:  2 hours

Format:  asynchronous online, with synchronous group activities

Target Learner:  general public

Big Ideas

Variety and balance are vital to healthy eating.  

Fad diets can negatively impact physical and mental health.


Essential questions:  

1) How should one eat to attain optimal health?

2) Why should one be concerned about what we eat?

3) How can we change from unhealthy eating habits to healthy ones?

4) How can I recognize diet messages that are harmful to me?
Learning Outcome(s)

The learner will be able to…		…evaluate the healthfulness of a meal, according to Canada’s Food Guide

…apply their understanding of variety and balance in eating to make healthful personal choices

…identify unhealthful diets

…explain the dangers of several fad diets

…identify several myths related to health and diet
Evidence of Learning– The learner correctly edits a given meal to be one that is consistent with Canada’s Food Guide.

– The learner creates a meal plan that is consistent with recommended foods, proportions, and portion sizes.

– The learner achieves at least 50% on a test/quiz.

– The learner’s presentation shows understanding of 2 – 3 myths/fads and their dangers.
Assessments– Write a test / quiz

– Create a healthy meal plan

– Give a presentation about fad diets and diet myths
Learning Activities– Video introducing link between unhealthy eating and disease

– Read an article and a webpage about healthy food choices.  

– Read information from a given fact sheet created using Canada’s Food Guide.  

– Given a picture of an unhealthy meal, make substitutions from available choices to transform it into a healthy meal.  

– In groups, plan a healthy meal to share between you.  Include amounts of each of your ingredients and explain why you made the choices you made.

– Read about and/or watch videos about several fad diets and myths.  

– In your groups, create a short video, comic, or essay to convince people that fad diets and myths can be harmful. 

List of Resources Learners need to access

References

  • Canada’s Food Guide. (2024, January 4). Diets and food trends. https://food- guide.canada.ca/en/tips-for-healthy-eating/diets-food-trends/
  • Cena, H., & Calder, P. C. (2020). Defining a healthy diet: Evidence for the role of contemporary dietary patterns in health and disease. Nutrients, 12(2), 334. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12020334
  • Kumar, M. M., & Dixon Docter, A. (Eds.). (2023). Fad diets and adolescents: A guide for clinicians, educators, coaches and trainers. Springer Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10565-4
  • Sciarrillo, C., Joyce, J., Hildebrand, D., & Emerson, S. (2020, November). The health risks of fad diets. Oklahoma State University Extension. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/the-health-risk-of-fad-diets.html

Project Plan

EverythingSoupLearning Activities
EthanAssessment
ConradOverview, citations
AhyunRationale, citations