Lesson Plan
Nutrition Label Know-How!
Students will be able to identify key components of a nutrition label (serving size, calories, nutrients) and understand their importance in making healthy food choices.
Understanding nutrition labels helps students make informed decisions about what they eat, promoting healthy habits that can last a lifetime. It's a practical life skill for healthier living.
Audience
3rd Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, visual aids, and a hands-on activity with a sample nutrition label.
Materials
Smartboard or Projector, Nutrition Label Know-How Slide Deck, Sample Nutrition Labels (printouts or empty food packages), Warm-Up Activity, Nutrition Label Worksheet, and Nutrition Label Worksheet Answer Key
Prep
Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Nutrition Label Know-How Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print out several sample nutrition labels or bring in empty food packages with labels for students to examine.
- Print copies of the Warm-Up Activity and Nutrition Label Worksheet for each student.
- Have the Nutrition Label Worksheet Answer Key ready for quick reference.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What Did You Eat?
5 minutes
- Distribute the Warm-Up Activity to each student.
- Instruct students to quickly draw or write about their favorite snack.
- Ask a few students to share their snacks and discuss why they like them. Transition by asking if they know what's in their favorite snacks, leading to the idea of nutrition labels.
Step 2
Introduction to Nutrition Labels
7 minutes
- Display the first slide of the Nutrition Label Know-How Slide Deck on the board.
- Explain that nutrition labels are like a secret code on food that tells us what's inside.
- Go through the slides, explaining 'Serving Size' and 'Calories'. Use simple language and ask guiding questions like, 'Why is serving size important?' and 'What do calories do for our bodies?'
- Show a sample nutrition label and point out the serving size and calories.
Step 3
Key Nutrients Exploration
8 minutes
- Continue with the Nutrition Label Know-How Slide Deck, introducing 'Fats', 'Sugars', and 'Protein'.
- Explain in simple terms what each nutrient does for our bodies (e.g., protein helps us grow strong, sugar gives quick energy but too much isn't good).
- Point out these sections on your sample nutrition label.
- Ask students to identify these nutrients on the labels you brought in.
Step 4
Hands-On Practice: Nutrition Label Worksheet
8 minutes
- Distribute the Nutrition Label Worksheet to each student.
- Instruct students to work individually or in pairs to complete the worksheet using a provided sample nutrition label.
- Circulate around the room to offer help and answer questions.
- Use the Nutrition Label Worksheet Answer Key to check answers and provide feedback.
Step 5
Wrap-Up: Healthy Choices
2 minutes
- Briefly review the main components of a nutrition label.
- Emphasize that reading labels helps them make smart choices for their bodies.
- Ask students to share one thing they learned about nutrition labels.
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Slide Deck
What's In Your Food?
Have you ever wondered what makes your food yummy and gives you energy?
Today, we're going to become food detectives!
Greet students and introduce the topic with an intriguing question about knowing what's in their food.
Meet the Nutrition Label!
It's a special tag on food packages.
It tells us important things about what we're eating.
It helps us make smart choices for our bodies!
Explain that nutrition labels are like a map for food. Point to a real-life example if possible. Emphasize that these labels help us choose healthy foods.
Serving Size: How Much?
The first thing to look for is Serving Size.
This tells you how much food is considered one portion.
The numbers below are for one serving!
Explain 'Serving Size' simply: how much food is one helping. Ask students to think about how many servings they might eat. Give an example like 'a serving of crackers is 5 crackers'.
Calories: Your Body's Fuel!
Calories are how much energy you get from food.
Your body uses energy to run, jump, think, and learn!
Too much fuel, and your body stores it. Just right, and you're ready to go!
Introduce 'Calories' as energy for our bodies. Explain that we need enough calories to play and learn, but not too many. Use an analogy like 'calories are like fuel for your body's car'.
Fats and Sugars: What to Watch For
- Fats: Your body needs some fat to stay healthy, but not too much of certain kinds.
- Sugars: Give you quick energy! But too much can make you feel sleepy later.
Simplify 'Total Fat' and 'Sugars' for 3rd graders. Explain that some fats are good for us (like in avocados), but too much of other kinds isn't. For sugars, explain they give quick energy but can make us tired later if we have too much.
Protein: Build Those Muscles!
Protein helps your body build and fix things, like muscles!
It keeps you feeling full and strong.
Think chicken, beans, nuts, and eggs!
Explain 'Protein' helps build muscles and keeps us strong. Give examples of foods rich in protein.
Be a Smart Food Detective!
Reading nutrition labels helps you:
- Know what you're eating.
- Choose healthy snacks and meals.
- Give your body the best fuel!
Conclude by reiterating the importance of reading labels for healthy choices. Encourage them to be 'food detectives' at home.
Warm Up
What's Your Favorite Snack?
Draw or write about your favorite snack in the box below.
What do you love about it?
Think about:
- What does it look like?
- What does it taste like?
- How does it make you feel?
Worksheet
Reading a Nutrition Label: Your Turn!
Instructions: Look at the sample nutrition label below and answer the questions.
Sample Nutrition Label
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 cup (228g)
Servings Per Container: 2
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 250
Calories from Fat: 120
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 2g
Cholesterol 30mg 10%
Sodium 660mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 10%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Sugars 5g
Protein 5g
Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 20% • Iron 4%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Questions:
- What is the Serving Size for this food?
- How many Calories are in one serving?
- How many grams of Sugars are in one serving?
- How many grams of Protein are in one serving?
- If you ate two servings, how many total calories would you eat? (Hint: Multiply the calories per serving by 2!)
- Why is it important to look at the serving size before you eat?
Answer Key
Nutrition Label Worksheet Answer Key
Instructions: Use this answer key to check your work on the Nutrition Label Worksheet.
Sample Nutrition Label (for reference)
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 cup (228g)
Servings Per Container: 2
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 250
Calories from Fat: 120
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 2g
Cholesterol 30mg 10%
Sodium 660mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 10%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Sugars 5g
Protein 5g
Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 20% • Iron 4%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Answers:
-
What is the Serving Size for this food?
- Answer: 1 cup (228g)
- Thought Process: The serving size is usually the first thing listed under "Nutrition Facts."
-
How many Calories are in one serving?
- Answer: 250 Calories
- Thought Process: Look for the "Calories" line directly under "Amount Per Serving."
-
How many grams of Sugars are in one serving?
- Answer: 5g
- Thought Process: Find "Sugars" under "Total Carbohydrate."
-
How many grams of Protein are in one serving?
- Answer: 5g
- Thought Process: Locate the "Protein" line near the bottom of the main nutrient list.
-
If you ate two servings, how many total calories would you eat? (Hint: Multiply the calories per serving by 2!)
- Answer: 500 Calories
- Thought Process: One serving has 250 calories. Two servings would be 250 x 2 = 500 calories.
-
Why is it important to look at the serving size before you eat?
- Answer: It tells you how much food the nutrition information (like calories and sugar) is for. If you eat more than one serving, you will be eating more calories, sugar, fat, etc., than what is listed for a single serving. Knowing the serving size helps you understand how much you are actually eating and how it affects your body.
- Thought Process: The serving size is the basis for all other numbers on the label, so understanding it is crucial to accurately assess what you're consuming.