Lab: Counting Calories printable pdf download

Name _______________________________________ Date ______________ Period _______

Lab: Counting Calories

C O O R D I N A T E D S C I E N C E 1

BACKGROUND: You choose to eat a meal about 1,000 times a year. Eating is a voluntary

activity, but you probably don’t give it a second thought. You will chose when to eat, what to eat,

and how much to eat, about 65,000 times in your lifetime (if you live to be 65). You will consume

about 50 tons of food. Each day’s intake of nutrients may affect your body only slightly, but over a

period of years, the effects of those intakes will build up. This is why it’s important for you to learn

how to make wise food choices.

A well balanced diet definitely contributes to a healthy body. Yet many teenagers do not have good

eating habits. They may skip breakfast, choose snacks that are rich in fats and sugars, go on crash

diets, and neglect foods that contain important nutrients. For most American, improper nutritional

habits cause health problems.

Good eating habits during the teenage years usually mean fewer problems during later years. Sci-

entists have begun to take a closer look at the relationship between nutrient intake and chronic, life-

threatening diseases. Heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, various diges-

tive disorders, and even certain types of cancer have all been found to be connected with nutrition.

It is becoming more and more evident that “you are what you eat”.

In this investigation, you will examine the nutritional values of fast foods that you might normally or-

der at your favorite fast-food restaurant. You will then evaluate the nutritional values of your

choices and plan a more nutritionally balanced meal from that same restaurant utilizing tables of

Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and tables listing the nutritive values for specially and

fast-food items.

MATERIALS:

Nutrition-information pamphlets from national fast-food restaurants

•

Table of Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)

•

Calculators

•

PROCEDURE:

1. Pick your favorite fast-food restaurant and make a list of items you might order for a typical meal

(lunch or dinner). List these items in Data Table #1. (Make sure the restaurant is listed in

Nutrition Table. If not, choose an alternative fast-food restaurant)

2. Fill in Data Table #1 utilizing the Nutrition-information pamphlets provided by the teacher. Also

calculate the percentage of calories due to carbohydrates, proteins and fat.

3. Answer questions 1 through 6

4. Now by looking at the Fast-food pamphlets, reorder your meal from the same Restaurant

substituting foods with fewer calories and fat. Place this information in Data Table #2.

5. After completing Data Table #2 answer questions 7 through 10.

Lab: Counting Calories