Nuitrition Unit
5 chemical categories of food:
Carbohydrate - quick energy
Protein - building blocks
Fat (lipids) - stored energy
Minerals - elements needed in body structures
Vitamins - Compounds that help the body function.
Also fiber is considered an essential nuitrient.
Carbs, Protein, & Fat are considered Macronuitrients because you need to eat a lot of them. Minerals & Vitamins are called Micro-Nuitritnts for obvious reasons
Simple Nutrition principles from Mr. Brown.
1. There is No Bad Food! (food is not good and/or bad)
2. It is not what you eat, it is what you don't eat.
3. Americans eat too much!
Nuitrition Label - Can you calculate the % calories due to fat in food you are eating? Fat Calories/Total Calories X 100 = Fat Calories %
Can you do the same for protein? 4 calories per gram of protein X grams of Protein / Total Calories X = Protein Calories %
You MUST be able to do these calculation! The Reason? You should eat an average of 30% of calories due to fat and this calculation enables you to know how much fat you are eating!
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulates food labeling and is responsible for keeping our food supply safe.
A Federal Agency (reports to the President) but depends on Congress for funding and will therefore respond to pressure from the food industry.
Class Work Assignment: Food Label Work Sheet. (make sure you have done this)
On Line label Assignment:
I did this with my cross country team to discover the best source of protein.
Did you set up an account?
Video:
We watched a Scientific American video with Alan Alda as host:
Colonial feast - What was his point?
Pima Indians story - "fidget factor", "thrifty gene", importance of exercise and diet.
Super foods story - Corn and B vitamin not active, Raw soy beans are toxic, and Wheat and yeast.
Obesity story - Obese people are not honest with themselves about how much they eat.