Lesson Plan - Can You Spot Healthy Foods?

Watch a Video: Read the Label

Discuss: What are some important pieces of information you can find on a food’s nutrition label?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• nutrients 
• processed 
• packaged

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them look for details about the benefits of healthy eating.

1. According to the article, what are processed foods? What is an example? The article explains that processed foods are foods that are changed from a natural state. They can be packed with added ingredients. An example is frozen pizza.

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2. What is one reason the FDA wants to update its rules about what foods can be called “healthy”? One reason the FDA wants to update its rules is that the old rules don’t set limits on added sugars. Scientists know that too much sugar can lead to health problems.

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3. Share two facts you can learn from the sidebar, “Read the Label.” Sample response: One fact you can learn from the sidebar is that a label tells how many servings are in a container. Another fact is that calcium helps build strong bones.

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FEATURED SKILL: Cause and Effect

Use the Skill Builder “Causes and Effects” to have students explore cause-and-effect relationships in the article. 

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