Lesson Plan
Navigating Nutrition Labels
Students will learn to interpret serving size, calories, nutrients, and %DV on food labels through guided analysis and hands-on activities to make informed eating choices.
Nutrition labels are critical for health literacy; understanding them empowers students to evaluate food choices, manage nutrient intake, and develop lifelong healthy habits.
Audience
10th Grade
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Guided discussion, journal reflection, and a scavenger hunt to apply label-reading skills.
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review Decoding the Nutrition Facts slide deck and anticipate student questions.
- Print copies of Label Detective Reflections journals.
- Prepare mock product labels or ensure access to smartphones for Grocery Store Scavenger Hunt.
- Set up presentation equipment for Navigating Nutrition Labels.
Step 1
Introduction: Why Read Nutrition Labels?
5 minutes
- Pose question: 'What information do you look for on food packaging?'
- Introduce learning objectives and relevance to daily life.
- Connect label literacy to health goals and consumer awareness.
Step 2
Guided Exploration with Slide Deck
15 minutes
- Navigate through Decoding the Nutrition Facts.
- Define Serving Size, Calories, Total Fat, Nutrients, and %DV.
- Ask students to read an example label and identify key information.
- Facilitate Q&A to clarify terms.
Step 3
Journal Reflection: Label Detective
10 minutes
- Distribute Label Detective Reflections.
- Students answer prompts: identify nutrient levels, adjust servings, and compare labels.
- Encourage critical thinking about ingredient lists and health claims.
Step 4
Application Activity: Grocery Store Scavenger Hunt
10 minutes
- Organize students into small groups.
- Provide product labels or use smartphones to find items meeting criteria (e.g., low sodium, high fiber).
- Students record findings and rationale.
- Groups prepare to share one standout product.
Step 5
Closure and Exit Ticket
5 minutes
- Ask students to share one key takeaway and one lingering question.
- Collect exit tickets or quick digital survey.
- Preview how label-reading skills apply to meal planning and grocery shopping.
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Slide Deck
Decoding the Nutrition Facts
Today we’ll learn how to read and interpret the Nutrition Facts label on food packaging to support healthier eating habits.
Welcome students and introduce the purpose of this deck: to understand each component of the Nutrition Facts label so they can make informed food choices.
Nutrition Facts Label Overview
An example label shows: 1) Serving Size & Servings Per Container 2) Calories 3) Nutrient amounts (Total Fat, Sodium, Carbs, Protein) 4) % Daily Value (%DV)
Display a clear, enlarged example of a food label. Point out the box format and explain that every packaged food must show this information.
Serving Size
• Indicates the amount of one serving (e.g., 1 cup, 2 slices)
• Shows how many servings are in the entire package
• All nutrient values are based on this amount
Explain that serving size is the first and most important item—it tells you the standard portion for the rest of the values on the label.
Calories
• Shows how much energy you get from one serving
• Helps manage daily energy intake to meet health goals
• Compare similar products by calories per serving
Discuss calories as a measure of energy and a way to compare foods. Emphasize that calories consumed beyond needs can lead to weight gain.
Total Fat & Other Nutrients
• Total Fat (saturated, trans fats)
• Cholesterol & Sodium
• Total Carbohydrate (fiber, sugars)
• Protein
Highlight key nutrients that must be listed. Explain why each is important for health—for example, limiting sodium or choosing high-fiber foods.
% Daily Value (%DV)
• Shows how much a nutrient in one serving contributes to a 2,000-calorie diet
• 5% DV or less is low; 20% DV or more is high
• Use %DV to compare and choose foods
Define %DV and how to use it for quick assessment of nutrient content against daily recommendations.
Interactive Question
If one serving has 150 calories and 8g total fat:
• How many calories in 2 servings?
• How much total fat will you consume?
Discuss your answers with a partner.
Pose an interactive problem. Have students calculate based on the example label on screen, then reveal answers and discuss variations.
Key Takeaways
• Always check serving size first
• Use calories and %DV to compare foods
• Look at nutrients to limit (fat, sodium, sugar) and nutrients to choose more (fiber, protein)
• Practice label-reading to make healthier choices
Reinforce the main lessons and encourage students to apply label-reading when shopping or planning meals.
Journal
Label Detective Reflections
Use your detective skills to analyze the nutrition labels of two snack products. Answer the prompts below based on the labels you examined during Navigating Nutrition Labels and the details in the Decoding the Nutrition Facts slide deck.
- Comparing Serving Sizes
- List the serving size and servings per container for Product A and Product B.
- How do these differences affect your understanding of each product’s calorie and nutrient counts?
- Calories & Key Nutrients
- Compare calories, total fat, sodium, and sugar per serving for both products.
- Which product seems healthier based on % Daily Value (%DV)? Explain your reasoning.
- Ingredient List Investigation
- Identify any ingredients (e.g., added sugars, artificial additives) that you find concerning or unclear in both lists.
- What questions would you pose to the manufacturer about these ingredients?
- Suggest one or two healthier alternatives you might look for instead.
- Personal Reflection
- Describe a time when you chose (or decided against) a snack product because of what you saw on its nutrition label.
- How will you apply the label-reading skills from today’s lesson the next time you shop or plan a snack?
- Creative Challenge (Optional)
- Imagine you’re developing a new healthy snack.
- Name three key ingredients and draft one front-of-package nutrition claim you would feature.
- Explain why that claim would matter to someone like you.
Activity
Grocery Store Scavenger Hunt
Purpose: Apply your label-reading skills in a real-world setting. In small groups, you’ll find packaged food items that meet specific nutrition criteria, record their label details, and explain your choices.
Group Roles:
- Label Reader: Records information from each product’s label.
- Criteria Checker: Verifies that each product meets the assigned nutrition requirement.
- Time Keeper: Keeps the group on task and watches the clock.
- Presenter: Shares your group’s standout product with the class.
Instructions:
- Form groups of 3–4 students.
- Each group will find one food item for each of the following criteria:
• Low Sodium (≤ 5% DV sodium per serving)
• High Fiber (≥ 10% DV fiber per serving)
• Low Sugar (≤ 10g sugar per serving)
• High Protein (≥ 10g protein per serving) - For each item you choose, complete the chart below. Use the actual Nutrition Facts label (from a mock label, smartphone photo, or package) to fill in details.
- Be ready to share which product best met your criteria and why you’d recommend it.
| Criteria | Product Name | Serving Size | Calories | Key Nutrient & %DV | Meets Criteria? (Yes/No) | Rationale (Why this choice?) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Sodium | Sodium: ___ mg (___% DV) | |||||
| High Fiber | Fiber: ___ g (___% DV) | |||||
| Low Sugar | Sugar: ___ g | |||||
| High Protein | Protein: ___ g |
Reflection & Share-Out (5 min):
- Which product was the most surprising? Why?
- How might you use these label-reading skills next time you shop or plan meals?