Transcript Food Label Lab

Food Label Activity
Biology
• Purpose: To examine the typical teenage diet
and compare the organic compounds ingested
to those required for healthy living.
• Problem: Will the foods I consume align with
the recommendations set forth by the Food &
Drug Administration’s guidelines for intake of
proteins, carbohydrates, and fats?
Background Information:
• According to the FDA, it is helpful to know that a 2,000calorie diet is about right for moderately active women,
teenage girls, and sedentary men, and 2,500 calories is the
target level for many men, teenage boys, and active
women.
• Some active men and teenage boys and very active women
may want to base their calorie consumption of 2,800
calories per day.
• While it is important to note that you are consuming the
correct amount of calories, it is also important to have the
right amount of the organic compounds that make up this
diet.
• Almost everything we eat is a protein, lipid, or
carbohydrate... many are combinations of these organic
compounds.
• Most of the calories you consume for the day should come
from carbohydrates (55 - 60%), proteins (15-20%), and
lipids (25 - 30%).
Data and Analysis:
• Table #1: Nutritional Information on Food Eaten Over
a 24-hour Period
Food
Number of
servings
eaten
Calories per
serving (g)
Carbs per
serving (g)
Protein per
serving (g)
Lipids per
serving (g)
Table #2: Caloric Content in Food Eaten Over a
24-hour Period
Food
Total #calories
Carb (g) x
#of servings x
4 cal/g
Protein (g) x
#of servings x
4 cal/g
Lipid (g) x
#of servings x
9 cal/g
Table #3: Grand Total of Calories Eaten Over a
24-hour Period
Total carbohydrate calories
Total protein calories
Total lipid calories
Grand total calories
Table #4: Percent of Daily Calories from
Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Lipids
% carbohydrate calories
% protein calories
% lipid calories
• Total Carbohydrate Calories / Grand Total Calories
X 100 = % carbohydrates
• b. Total Protein Calories / Grand Total Calories X
100 = % protein
• c. Total Lipids Calories / Grand Total Calories X
100 = % lipids
Analysis Questions:
1. How close were you to the recommended percentages of
carbohydrates (55-60%), protein (15-20%), and lipids (2530%)?
2. If your numbers are higher than the ideal diet in one of your
organic compounds, then which food item(s) will you
consider decreasing or eliminating from your diet to improve
it? Be specific.
3. If your diet is too low in one or more organic compound,
which food item(s) will you consider increasing to improve
your diet? Be specific.
Conclusion:
As always…
Write the answers in a flowing paragraph to the
following questions:
1. What did you like about this activity?
2. What did you learn about this activity?
3. What would you change to make this activity
better?
4. What possible sources of error did you have?