Decoding Food Labels for Healthier Choices

Decoding Food Labels for Healthier Choices

Year 9 Health Education Making Informed Food Decisions Understanding Nutritional Information

How Do You Choose Your Food?

Think about the last time you bought a snack What influenced your decision? Price? Taste? Brand? Appearance? Did you look at the nutrition information?

What's on a Food Label?

Serving Size - How much counts as one serving Calories - Energy provided per serving Macronutrients - Fats, carbohydrates, protein Sugars - Total and added sugars Sodium - Salt content Ingredients List - Listed by weight (heaviest first)

Reading Labels Like a Detective

Label Comparison Challenge

Work in groups of 4-5 students Compare 2-3 different food products Use the analysis worksheet provided Record key nutritional data Decide which product is healthier Prepare to share one surprising finding

Red Flags vs. Green Lights

{"left":"High sodium (over 400mg per serving)\nHigh added sugars (over 10g)\nTrans fats (any amount)\nLong ingredient lists with chemicals","right":"High fiber content (3g or more)\nGood protein source (10g or more)\nLow saturated fat\nRecognizable, whole food ingredients"}

Marketing vs. Reality

'Natural' doesn't always mean healthy 'Low-fat' might mean high sugar 'Multigrain' isn't the same as 'whole grain' Check the ingredients list, not just the front package Health claims can be misleading The nutrition panel tells the real story

Your Food, Your Choice

'Knowledge is power - especially when it comes to the food you put in your body. Every label you read is a step toward better health and wellbeing.'