Energy and Nutrition: Label Reading
Lower Secondary - 12-15 years old - Duration: 2 sessions of 45 min.
Introductory question
Have you ever wondered what secrets the label of your favorite snacks hides and how that information affects your daily energy?
Explanatory summary
This guide will turn you into a nutrition detective. You'll learn how to read and interpret food labels to understand where your energy comes from. You'll discover what calories, fats, proteins and carbohydrates are, and how to make more informed choices to keep your body healthy and full of vitality, while respecting its needs.
Skills to be developed
- Cognitive: Data analysis, comparison, basic calculation and critical evaluation of information.
- Socioemotional: Self-awareness, responsible decision making and development of healthy habits.
- Internships: Reading and interpretation of technical information and use of formulas to estimate energy needs.
Linked standards: UNESCO (Education for Health and Wellness), Project Based Learning.
Learning objectives
- Identify and compare key components (calories, fat, protein) on at least three nutrition labels.
- Calculate an estimate of personal daily energy expenditure using a simplified formula.
- Evaluate how dietary choices impact personal energy balance.
- Reflect on the importance of making informed decisions for the well-being and respect for one's own body.
Materials
| Economical (Recycled) | Standard | Pro (Digital) |
|---|---|---|
| Empty food containers brought from home (cereal boxes, cans, wrappers). Pencil, paper and cell phone calculator. | Printed worksheets with sample labels. Internet access for additional nutritional information. Calculator. | Access to computers or tablets with internet connection. Use of online nutritional databases (e.g. USDA FoodData Central). |
Safety note: Encourage a positive relationship with food, avoiding obsessing over numbers. The goal is awareness, not restriction.
Step-by-step procedure
- Step 1: What do we really eat? (25 min)
Group discussion on the introductory question. The teacher presents a model nutrition label and explains its main parts: servings, calories, macronutrients (fats, carbohydrates, proteins) and key micronutrients (sodium, sugars). - Step 2: Nutrient Detective (40 min)
In teams, students analyze and compare 3 different labels, filling in a comparative table. The teacher then guides the calculation of Daily Energy Expenditure (DEE) using a simplified formula (e.g. adapted Harris-Benedict formula). - Step 3: My Personal Balance Sheet (25 min)
Each team presents its findings. A discussion is opened: Does the energy provided by these foods align with our daily needs? They end with a personal written reflection on a habit they could improve.
Formative evaluation
Reflection questions:
- Which label fact surprised you the most and why?
- How do you think knowing your daily energy expenditure can help you make better decisions?
- Describe a real situation where reading a label could change your choice of a product.
Evidence to be collected: Completed label comparison table, energy cost calculation sheet, and written answers to the reflection questions.
Evaluation rubric
| Criteria | Initial | Basic | Advanced | Expert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Label interpretation | Identify data with help. | Autonomously identifies and annotates key data. | Compares data between different tags. | Critically evaluates information and its context. |
| Energy calculation | Requires guidance to follow the formula. | Apply the formula with some errors. | It calculates your energy expenditure accurately. | Relate the result to your daily activities. |
| Critical reflection | Describes a habit superficially. | It connects a food choice with your well-being. | Analyze the consequences of their habits. | Proposes concrete and justified changes in your diet. |
Differentiation
- Supports: Provide a glossary of terms (e.g., «saturated fat»). Use online calculators to verify the manual calculation. Work in heterogeneous pairs.
- Extensions: Research the function of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and where to find them on labels.
- Challenges: Design a full day's menu that fits your calculated energy expenditure, or create the nutrition label for a made-up «healthy snack».
Connections to daily life
- Health: Promotes self-management of health and prevention of diet-related diseases.
- Sports: Helps to understand the relationship between «fuel» (food) and physical performance.
- Finance: It allows you to compare products not only by price, but also by nutritional value, optimizing your purchases.
- Values: Promotes respect and care for one's own body, and critical thinking in the face of food advertising.
Safety and Sustainability
It is essential to approach this activity from a holistic health and body positivity. The goal is not to obsessively count calories, but to understand the information in order to make conscious decisions. Avoid language that encourages guilt or restriction. In sustainability, the environmental impact of the packaging of the products analyzed can be discussed.