“What’s on My Plate? – A Study of
Nutritional Labels on Biscuits & Breakfast Cereals”
Objective:
To study,
classify, and analyze the nutritional content of popular biscuits and breakfast
cereals with a special focus on sugar, salt, and added
preservatives, and compare them with recommended daily intake levels
using bar graphs and other visual representations a
Step-by-Step
Project Guidelines:
📝 PART 1: Data Collection
1.
Collect Labels
(physical or digital photos) from:
o At least 5 biscuit brands
(e.g. Parle-G, Bourbon, Hide & Seek, Oreo, Marie)
o At least 5 breakfast cereals
(e.g. Kellogg’s Cornflakes, Chocos, Muesli, Cheerios, Nestlé Fitness)
2.
Note down the following per 100g or per serving:
o Sugar Content (g)
o Salt/Sodium Content (g or mg)
o Preservatives/Additives (E-numbers or
names like BHA, BHT, Sorbic Acid etc.)
o Calories
o Fiber Content (optional but good for
health analysis)
📊 PART 2: Classification of Data
|
Product
Name |
Type |
Sugar
(g) |
Salt
(g) |
Preservatives |
Calories
(kcal) |
|
Parle-G |
Biscuit |
24 |
0.9 |
None |
450 |
|
Kellogg's
Chocos |
Cereal |
35 |
1.1 |
BHT (E321) |
385 |
|
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
📉 PART 3: Bar Graphs & Visuals
1.
Make
Bar Graphs for comparison:
o Sugar content per brand
o Salt content per brand
o Number of preservatives used
per brand
(Use
color coding for biscuits and cereals for clarity)
You can also
make Pie Charts for % of sugar and salt compared to recommended intake.
📌 PART 4: Recommended Daily Intake
(RDI)
|
Nutrient |
Recommended
Daily Intake (Approx) |
|
Sugar |
|
|
Salt |
|
|
Preservatives |
Should be as
minimal as possible |
🔍 PART 5: Observations &
Inferences
Which is the healthiest snack?
What should your friends avoid?
💡 Extra Inputs / Creativity Corner
- Encourage label reading as a
life skill.
- Add a section: “Healthy
Swaps” – suggest alternatives like homemade granola or nut biscuits.
- Interview 5 peers or parents:
“Do you read labels before buying?”
- Create a poster or
infographic to educate schoolmates.
🧪 Optional Extension (Science/Math
Integration):
- Calculate percentage of
sugar in 100g serving.
- Use math to find how many
biscuits or bowls of cereal would exceed daily sugar/salt limits.
- Use average, maximum, and
minimum statistics in your analysis.
📘 Conclusion Format (Sample)
“From this
project, I learned that many common food items contain more sugar and salt than
we expect. Regularly eating them may lead to health problems. I will now be
more mindful and always check the nutrition label before buying packaged
foods.”
📚 Learning Outcomes:
- Develops awareness about
nutrition and healthy eating
- Enhances data analysis, graphing,
and observation skills
- Builds habit of critical
thinking and responsible consumption
Note : All
data , tables, etc are only for the purpose of providing examples. Please
clarify the data from trusted sites. Students are free to use different methods
of data representation of their choice.
6. Suggest Alternatives:
-
Recommend at least two healthier snack options (e.g., fruits, nuts, homemade snacks).
🌟 Extra Tips
-
Use colors and titles in your graphs.
-
Graphs can be made by hand or using Excel/Google Sheets.
-
You can bring empty wrappers to create a class exhibit!
🔍 What You’ll Learn
-
How to read and understand food labels
-
Apply data handling and math skills
-
Become a smart food consumer
-
See how science connects to your daily choice
| Section | Criteria | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Data Collection | Collected data from at least 5 biscuits & 5 cereals | 5 |
| Clear noting of sugar, salt, preservatives, and calories | 5 | |
| Part 2: Data Classification | Accurate and well-organized table of nutritional data | 5 |
| Part 3: Visual Representation | Bar graphs for sugar, salt, and preservatives | 5 |
| Use of color coding and clear labels | 2 | |
| Pie charts or any creative representation (optional) | 3 | |
| Part 4: RDI Comparison | Compared data with recommended daily intake | 3 |
| Part 5: Observations & Inferences | Well-thought-out observations (healthiest, avoidable snacks) | 5 |
| Healthy Swaps & Creativity Corner | Suggested healthy alternatives & creative effort (poster, etc.) | 5 |
| Optional Extension (if attempted) | % sugar/salt, stats, or math integration | 2 |
| Presentation & Effort | Neatness, originality, and overall presentation | 5 |
Comments
Post a Comment