Space Food and Nutrition pdf - Virtual Astronaut

Activity 3:Planning and Serving FoodObjectiveThe students will plan a 5-day flight menu and design afood tray that can be used in space.Science Standards• Science as Inquiry: Abilities necessary todo scientific inquiry• Life Science: Matter, energy, and organizationin living systems• Science in Personal and Social Perspectives:Personal health• Physical Science: Position and motion of objectsMathematics Standard• ComputationHelpful Hints1. For K—1 students, food pictures from magazines andads can be used to plan the menu. The students mayalso cut and paste pictures to construction paper tosimulate the Space Shuttle food tray.2. Some possible materials that can be used to build thefood trays are boxes, cardboard, hook and loop tape(Velcro), magnets, foil, wood, construction paper, andglue. Encourage students to be creative in their designs.they are made of a hard plastic instead of aluminum orcardboard.ProcedureThe students will plan a nutritionally balanced 5-daymenu for astronauts. It is important that astronautsreceive the recommended daily caloric intake so they canmaintain their energy level and good health. Use the FoodPyramid Guide in the appendix to nutritionally balancethe meals. Using the recommended food group and suggesteddaily servings chart listed in Activity 4, choosefoods that will fulfill the recommended daily allowancesfor the astronauts.The students will design and build a tray to hold theirmeals. To help the astronauts eat their meals on the SpaceShuttle, a special tray has been devised to help hold thedifferent food types and packages in place. This preventsfood from drifting in a microgravity environment.Discussion1. What types of problems might you face while trying toeat in space?2. Are there other ways to serve space food?3. Why is it important for astronauts to receive the recommendeddaily caloric and nutritional intake?MaterialsUSDA Food Pyramid Guide (Appendix G)Food group and suggested daily servings chart(Activity 4)BackgroundAstronauts use special trays in space because of the specialmicrogravity environment. These trays are designedto hold everything in place while food is being preparedand eaten. On the Space Shuttle, the trays used havestraps on the back so that the astronauts can attach themto either the wall or their leg in order to hold them inplace. They also have hook and loop tape on them toattach to the foods and drink packages; utensils are heldin place with magnets. The ISS food tray has compartmentsto hold special bowl-like containers. They snapinto place and hold the food in the tray. These containersare similar to single-serving frozen food dishes that canbe found in the grocery store. The only difference is thatExtensionsHave the students plan and prepare a space food luncheon.The food trays the students designed and built willbe used. The menu for the day will be selected from theInternational Space Station Daily Menu Food List. Theschool administration should be invited as well as communityleaders and parents. Remember to invite the localmedia.Students can cut food pictures from actual food containersand place rehydratables in zip-locking bags for SpaceShuttle food. For ISS frozen foods, food pictures fromfrozen food packages can be cut to fit the recycled plasticfrozen food containers. Foam core or plaster of pariscan be used to give the package actual weight.AssessmentEvaluate each food tray for design and usability. Verify thatthe meals planned are nutritionally balanced.20 • Space Food and Nutrition An Educator’s Guide With Activities in Science and Mathematics, EG-1999-02-115-HQ