Introduction
Nowadays society is very concerned about health and there are different approaches to lead a healthy life style. Nutrition is an important component of life, and therefore researches keep calculating impact of different nutrients and designing healthier food. A poor diet can cause deficiency diseases, even leading to chronic metabolic illnesses and threatening conditions. It is advisable to know about those nutrients and balance how much you consume every day. The US Food and Drug Administration started to enforce labeling on packaged products since 1994 and now there are many regulations for different types of foods.
Applications
After reading the article in Mathematics in Our World we have discovered, that the food industry gives us a misleading approach towards calculating amount of fat in foods. I have chosen three of my favorite packaged foods: frozen waffles, the Lunchables™ lunch combination and LeanCuisine™ dinner offer to find out for myself percentage of calories from fat and protein.
The formula for this assignment is demonstrated below, and it involves common calculations of percentage. Calculations are based on the fact that there are 9 calories per gram of fat and 4 calories per gram of protein.
Breakfast
Kellogg's Eggo Fiber Plus Calcium Buttermilk Waffles, 8ct
Weight - 70 g
Calories - 160
Fat - 6 g
Protein - 3 g
Food industry approach: 6g / 70 g *100% = 4.2 %
Calories from Fat content: (6 grams of fat)*(9 calories per gram of fat) = 54 calories
% Calories from Fat: [(54 calories)/(160 calories)]*100 = 33.75 %
33.75 % of the calories come from fat
Calories from Protein content: (3 grams of protein)*(4 calories per gram of protein) = 12 calories
% Calories from Protein: [(12 calories)/(160 calories)]*100 = 7.5 %
7.5 % of the calories come from protein
Lunch
Oscar Mayer Lunchables: Ham + American Sub Sandwich (without a drink)
Weight - 104 g
Calories - 250
Fat - 7 g
Protein - 11 g
Food industry approach: 7g / 104g *100% = 7.28 %
Calories from Fat content: (7 grams of fat)*(9 calories per gram of fat) = 63 calories
% Calories from Fat: [(63 calories)/(250 calories)]*100 = 25.2 %
25.2 % of the calories come from fat
Calories from Protein content: (11 grams of protein)*(4 calories per gram of protein) = 44 calories
% Calories from Protein: [(44 calories)/(250 calories)]*100 = 17.6 %
17.6 % of the calories come from protein
Dinner
Lean Cuisine Market Creations Chicken Alfredo, 10.5 oz
Weight - 297 g
Calories - 280
Fat - 7g
Protein - 20g
Food industry approach: 7g / 297g *100% = 2.35 %
Calories from Fat content: (7 grams of fat)*(9 calories per gram of fat) = 63 calories
% Calories from Fat: [(63 calories)/(280 calories)]*100 = 22.5%
22.5 % of the calories come from fat
Calories from Protein content: (20 grams of protein)*(4 calories per gram of protein) = 80 calories
% Calories from Protein: [(80 calories)/(280 calories)]*100 = 28.57 %
28.57 % of the calories come from protein
Conclusion
I have chosen this method to calculate, because it is the only one appropriate for calories. After finishing this assignment I will be more attentive to foods that we consume, because the package can contain wrong information. When I was doing this assignment I have noticed, that calories from fat in both products equaled to 63, however two of the brands mentioned 60 and 70 on their packages respectively. In fact, there are more calories in products, than it is indicated. People must value health and be alerted about the impact of different nutrients in order to stay fit, live longer and have less health problems.
References
1. Food Labeling Guidance & Regulatory information, US Food and Drug Administration, http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/FoodLabelingGuidanceRegulatoryInformation/default.htm
2. Official website of Kelloggs, Nutrition facts for breakfast: http://www2.kelloggs.com/ProductDetail.aspx?id=20431
3. Official website of Kraft Foods, Nutrition facts for lunch:http://www.kraftbrands.com/lunchables/ourproducts/default.aspx?navID=lunchables-without-drink&lineID=true
4. Official website of Lean Cuisine, Nutrition facts for dinner: http://www.leancuisine.com/Products/Details.aspx?ProductID=11003
