Cafeteria Connection

Have you been looking for a better way to connect the school's food service with nutrition education? Maybe setting up "an interactive learning center" in the school's cafeteria is just the idea! Two students can be assigned to direct the activity at the center.

This activity meets Illinois State goals 5, 6, 11, 24.

Objective

Students will predict the fat content of common cafeteria items - ala carte items as well as the reimbursable meal

Materials

Food labels or pictures

Shortening, measuring teaspoon

Small plastic bowls (dark color like red or blue)

Plastic wrap

Paper for banners

Preparation

Make banners

Determine fat content of the most commonly selected cafeteria foods. Divide number of grams of fat in a serving by 4 to determine number of teaspoons of fat.

(4 grams of fat equals one teaspoon)

Measure shortening into bowls to represent fat content for most commonly selected cafeteria foods.

Display foods and bowls on a table.

Students will try to predict the correct amount of fat in each food by placing the bowl next to the food (picture or label) they think contains that amount of fat.