This week in Chemistry students began a new unit focusing on inequalities of energy within a community. Students started off the week by discussing how inequalities exist within their own Chicago communities and focused on their access to healthy food. Many students noted that they do not think that they have as much access to healthy food as other communities within Chicago, but didn’t know if there would be a change in the food they eat even if they did have healthier options. Steven Fitts said “just because we have a healthy option close to us doesn’t mean we will run to it.”
Students then began to research a community within Chicago to see how the accessibility to healthy food impacts the community members’ health. Students researched common health issues within a specific community, the amount of grocery stores within the community, how accessible grocery stores were on public transportation, and the amount of healthy schools within a community. Students were able to see a link between the amount of grocery stores that sold fresh fruits and vegetables and the amount of health issues within a community.
Students finished off the week by examining their own diet. Students brought in a typical snack that they would eat during the day and calculated the amount of fat and calories in it. They then compared it to the amount of calories that their body typically would need on a 2,000 calorie diet. Many students were very surprised at the amount of calories that were in their snacks and the amount of calories they actually need in a day. Next week students will begin to log all their food and drink intake for a week to see how the amount of calories they are ingesting on a daily basis.