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Diets then and now

Jim Jaeger

The diets of early foragers were very different from ours, but the dietary needs of early foragers were similar to ours. I asked my students to consider how quickly we can rack up 3,000 kcal today. 

Breakfast: Dunkin' Donuts sausage, egg, and cheese croissant (690 kcal), hot chocolate (220 kcal)

Lunch: McDonald's McChicken sandwich (424 kcal), with a 16 oz. soda (210 kcal), fries (244 kcal)

Dinner: Burger King Whopper (670 kcal), medium shake (560 kcal)

I had my students try to determine how long it would take to get that many calories if there were no shops and you had to get them all from fruits, grubs, fish, and other things that you could find in the environment around your home.  How much time would you spend per day doing this? How much new knowledge would you need in order to know what foods were safe to eat, and where you could find good food?

The answers were quite eye-opening!

  • This is a fantastic activity! Totally bookmarking this idea for next year when I wrap up my hunter gatherer part of the unit. Did you spend one lesson on this? It would be cool to have students track their meals or even the school lunches all week to be aware of the modern caloric intake v. Back then. Any interesting realizations amongst your students ? 

  • Great questions!  Thanks for sharing  !

  • in reply to Adriane Musacchio

     I really only used this as an opener. I should have done what you are suggesting and made an actual activity out of it. Students could track food intake for a set time and then compare.  Next year... :)

  • This, for me, is one of the fundamental changes from the early history of humans to today, just how easy it is to get calories for so many people! How hunger was just a part of the day to day existence for our ancestors while for us, some of my students can't go 90 minutes without a snack.

    We were once on a field trip, and we had to drive 3 hours to get where we were going and a parent chaperone was just shocked we were not stopping for snacks. 

    I am going to use this is during my wrap up over the next 2 weeks. Great idea!