Introduction

Through our research, we sought to

analyze the nutrient content of meals
provided by the Food for Thought
Program's weekend meal packages
(i.e. PowerSacks). Elementary school children (ages 3-12), attending Title 1 schools, rely on school breakfast and lunch
programs for food during the week; however, it is often challenging to find enough food for the weekends. PowerSacks
are designed to supply enough food to feed a family of four
over the weekend, and consist of two meals plus snacks that
require little-to-no preparation. They consist of non-perishable
items, which may put limits on diversity and quality.
The Food for Thought program which serves over 900 children in four Denver Metro schools strives to provide adequate nutritional sustenance; however, the nutritional quality
of their PowerSacks had yet to be formally assessed. Food is
purchased from the Food Bank of the Rockies (at a cost of $4
per PowerSack), and choices are limited by availability, shelflife, and quantity.
Through our research, we provide a detailed nutrient profile
of these PowerSacks to get a grasp for nutritional adequacy.
We hope this will provide a foundation for determining if
healthier alternatives will become feasible in the future.

Calories

Vitamin C

Each PowerSack does not contain enough calories or nutrients to sustain a family of 4. It may provide enough nutrients to one individual.
Providing fresh fruits and vegetables would be another alternative, but due to difficulties with shelf life and transportation of these items, it may be difficult to provide.
Calories are the amount of energy that the body requires for normal
function. 1 calorie = the amount of energy required to raise 1 gram
of water by 1 degree Celsius

Vitamin C is important for collagen formation, wound healing, repair &

maintenance of cartilage, bone, teeth, & an antioxidant that counteracts
damage caused by free radicals

Protein

Iron

We constructed a family model consisting of a mother and father (ages 19-50) and two children (ages 6 and 11). Then we
referenced the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI's) to garner the appropriate nutrient requirements for each individual. The nutrients provided for each individual were juxtaposed with the

Future Research
Further research will need to be done to test several alternative meal plans; these alternative meal plans will hopefully be able to improve the nourishment provided by
PowerSacks. However, these Power Sack alternatives will
likely be restricted by the same variables (e.g. cost, availability, perishability, quantity).

Protein is essential for building & maintaining tissue, vital for

growth & development during childhood, adolescence, & pregnancy

Iron is necessary for growth, development, normal cellular function, &

the synthesis of some hormones & connective tissue

Carbohydrates

Calcium

Method/Materials
We recorded the foods in each
PowerSack for 5 weeks to obtain a
report of what was allotted each
week. We focused on evaluating total
kilocalories (Calories), carbohydrate,
protein, fat, vitamin C, vitamin A,
iron, calcium, sodium and sugar content. These nutrient values are typically the only ones that are widely represented on
nutrient labels. Nutrient analysis software (MyDietAnalysis)
was used to interpret the nutrient profile of each PowerSack.

Conclusion

Carbohydrates provide energy to the body; brain, muscles, organs,

central nervous system, & prevent protein from being used as energy

Calcium is needed to maintain strong bones, muscle contraction,

nervous system, electrolyte balance, & hormone/enzyme release

Vitamin A

Sodium

Vitamin A is involved in immune function, vision, reproduction, cell

growth, cell differentiation, cellular communication, & the normal
formation & maintenance of the heart, lungs, & kidneys

Sodium is necessary for controlling blood pressure, blood volume, muscle contraction, & nervous system communication

References
Boyle, Marie A., and David H. Holben. Community nutrition in action: an entrepreneurial approach.
6th ed. Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2013. Print.
"Food for Thought Denver" Food for Thought Denver | Because they're all our kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 15
Jan. 2014. <http://www.foodforthoughtdenver.org>.
"Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets." Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2014.
<http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/>.

Limitations
The PowerSack is limited to the
Food Bank of the Rockies list,
and it changes weekly. The
foods may not be culturally accepted or liked, and language or
literacy barriers may prevent
foods from being properly prepared.
A major limitation was the capability of the software to
obtain proper nutrient data for the foods. My Diet Analysis program did not show comprehensive nutrient data for
each food. As a result, the program may falsely present
nutrient deficiencies.
Large quantities of the food were highly refined, processed, and full of simple sugars and starches.
This needs to be taken into account that nutrient
requirements vary depending on age, sex, BMI, activity
level, or diseases such as diabetes or Celiacs disease.
It is not known what other foods are available for the
child at home.

Acknowledgements
We would like to express profound gratitude to our Dietetics Professor and mentor Dr. Bruce
Rengers, who granted us the opportunity to work on this project. Dr. Rengers has provided valuable
education and guidance during our time at MSU Denver.
Also, the cordial support from Food for Thought Denvers Co-Founder Bob Bell, and Board Member
& Volunteer Coordinator Jeane Larkins. We are grateful for their cooperation with this assignment.