Part of Lesson Plan: Culinary Caregiving

Activity Overview / Details

Students will gain knowledge and tips about meal planning for individuals with special dietary needs by reading and collecting information from various resources. Students will then be given a scenario and will develop an appropriate meal menu that meets the dietary needs and restrictions of the subject described in the scenario.  (If desired, teacher may have students work in groups of 2 to 3.)

Sample scenario subjects: 1) 55 year old male with high blood pressure and must restrict sodium content, 2.) 24 year old female, 3 months pregnant, 3) 48 year old male recovering from heart by-pass surgery and must restrict fat and cholesterol, 4) 35 year old female, recovering from breast cancer, and 5) 80 year old widower living alone after 58 years living with his wife who did all the cooking.  (Teacher can create other sample scenarios.)

Chapter 11 "Culinary Nutrition" in the textbook Culinary Essentials, pp.254 to 270 will be helpful as well as the resources below.