1. Get a label from a food product. Everyone in your group should have a different label.
2. Find the name of the food product. Write down the complete name. Underline the simple name. (the name you would put on the shopping list)
DRUMSTICK The Original Sundae Cone Vanilla Caramel
3. Find the name of the manufacturer. Write its name down beside the words "made by".
Made by Nestle
4. Find the "net weight" of the package. Write this down beside the words "net weight".
Net weight 18.4 fl oz, 544 mL
5. Locate the list of ingredients. Count them (count ingredients inside the parentheses, too). How many ingredients were there? Write this number down next to the word "ingredients". In your group who had the highest number of ingredients? Write down the name of this product and the number of ingredients.
19 Ingredients
6. Find how many times sugar is listed (all words that end in -ose, plus corn syrup and any phrase with "sugar"). Write down all the different ways sugar was listed. Who in your group had the most mentions of sugar? Write down this number and the name of the product.
sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup
7. Was there any salt? Write down "salt" or "no salt" based on your observations.
salt
8. Write down any words in the ingredients list that your didn't know what meant. Are you happy eating foods you can't pronounce?
thiamine mononitrate, potasium sorbate
For more information on food additives click here . Scroll to the bottom of that page to find examples of additives and the foods where they are common used.
9. Find the "Nutrition Facts" panel. Write down the "percent daily value" of total fat, sat fat, sodium and dietary fiber for a 2000 calorie diet (this is at the bottom of the nutrition facts box.) If your package doesn't list this, find someone that does have it and copy it from that package.
10. How many servings are there in your package? Write the number next to the word "servings". nutritionfactsWould you really expect to get that many servings out of the package? How many serving do you think you really should get?
one serving
11. Complete the Graphic Organizer sheet. Use that information to complete the next question.
12. Who in your group had the healthiest food? Write down that product's name. Tell me why you think it was healthier than your food. If yours was the healthiest--write down another person's food and tell me why it was less healthy than yours.
EXTRA CREDIT: repeat steps 2-13 for another product (you may skip the comparisons with others in your group).
Want to know what light, lite and fat free mean? Get more information.
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