You have to create a 1 day sample meal plan with 3 meals and 2 snacks that could potentially enhance your immune response and help fight an infectious illness like Covid-19

We are still in a pandemic. Vaccines are here but their effectiveness in totally stopping this pandemic is limited until everyone, or almost everyone, is vaccinated worldwide. We still do not have a treatment that is effective for everyone and hundreds of thousands of Americans and millions around the world have already died.

We all know to wear a mask, wash our hands more often for at least 20 seconds, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, stay 3-6 feet away from others as a safe distance. What else can we do?

We have learned about all the macro and micronutrients as well as phytochemicals. The focus has been on chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. But what about acute or infectious diseases? What can you do through diet and nutrition to improve your immune system and potentially avoid acute illness?

You have to create a 1 day sample meal plan with 3 meals and 2 snacks that could potentially enhance your immune response and help fight an infectious illness like Covid-19 (or even just a common cold). Your sample one day “menu” should include portion sizes and be very detailed. Don’t just say – cereal with milk. What kind of cereal? What type of milk? How much of each? These must be legitimate foods you would eat. I know you’re not eating liver and turnips! Be sure to include plenty of micronutrient-rich foods and phytochemical-rich foods; don’t just focus on macro-nutrients like protein. The meal plan must be foods only; no supplements in any form – pill, powder etc. 

Then explain in detail the benefits of each food choice. This should not just be a list of nutrients but how the nutrients in these foods work in the body- the physiology- to enhance our immune system to protect us and fight off illness like COVID-19. This part is to be college level essay writing, in paragraphs and grammatically correct. The essay portion (not including the meal plan) of this assignment should be a minimum of 5 pages, with standard margins, double-spaced and no greater than 12 font. Include a citation page for your references, in the format of your choice, but must state the title of each source. Your grade is not only based on content but on your writing/grammar etc. and following directions. 

Menu-

Your sample menu should be clearly presented first, your minimum 5 page essay after.

The menu can be entirely fictitious- something you make up/invent/create- that is power packed with nutrients that support/improve/enhance immunity. Don’t just write down what you eat unless your regular daily diet is that nutrient dense.
It does not have to be like a restaurant menu. Just include regular foods one should eat.
Don’t add a bunch of fluff to your menu. You will lose points if you add in foods that will deplete immunity. For example- don’t add fancy, special desserts. It’s not a restaurant menu.
Write your sample menu as a menu, not a paragraph. For example-
Breakfast Lunch Dinner

½ c blah blah blah 3 oz. blah blah blah 4 oz blah

1c blah blah 2 slices whole grain bread ½ c blah blah

1 piece blah ½ c blah blah 1c blah blah blah

1 c green tea 16 oz water 1 apple

Essay-

The essay portion of your paper must discuss the nutrients in your menu and how they enhance our immune system. Explain in detail the benefits of each food choice. This should not just be a list of nutrients but how the nutrients in these foods work in the body- the physiology- to enhance our immune system to protect us and fight off illness like COVID-19. For example, you need to go deeper than “Vitamin C boosts immunity”. Explain how Vitamin C boosts immunity. HINT: Don’t even type the words “XYZ boosts immunity” unless your sentence continues on to say “because it …” or ” by the action of …” or such.

Also, include and discuss more than just Vitamin C. There are many micro-nutrients and phyto-chemicals to include.

For this assignment, stick to the topic. Do not write about anything else besides how the nutrients in your foods enhance immunity- not cancer or diabetes or Alzheimer’s etc.- stick to the topic. You lose points if you don’t follow directions.

The essay portion (not including the meal plan) of this assignment must be a minimum of 5 pages, with standard margins, double-spaced and no greater than 12 font. Include a citation page for your references, in the format of your choice, but must state the title of each source.