LAB · ALL AGES (1–8)

🥗 What’s in Your Food

Compare labels, sugar, and ingredients in a virtual grocery and cafeteria. Build healthy meals under real-world budget and access constraints.

Progress: 0 / 4 stages complete

How to do this lab — read me first!

1.Take the pre-quiz below. Type your answer into the box for each question — it's okay if you're not sure! This shows what you already know. Spelling doesn't have to be perfect, and CAPS or lowercase both work the same.
2.Read the lab sections below the quiz — they explain the science in plain words. Tap "Go deeper" on any card for extra info.
3.Work through each lab module by tapping the bubbles near the top. Read it, then press "Mark module complete" to unlock the next one.
4.Do the hands-on sorting activity — use the up/down arrows to put the items in the right order, then press Check my order.
5.Take the post-quiz. It unlocks after you finish everything above. Type your answers in — short answers are fine, just write the main idea.
6.Sign in to save your scores and earn a badge. No account? You can still explore the whole lab.

💡 Stuck on a question? Scroll back and re-read the section about it, then return and try again. There's no time limit!

📝 Pre-quiz — what do you already know?

✏️ Type your answer in the box. Spelling close enough is OK — UPPER or lower case both work.

1. Nutrition means:

2. Sugar affects:

3. Food labels show:

4. Balanced diet includes:

5. Food deserts mean:

6. Nutrition affects:

7. Fast food is:

8. Meals should be:

9. Ingredients matter for:

10. Healthy eating includes:

Simulation overview

Students analyze food choices in a simulated grocery and cafeteria environment. They compare nutritional labels, sugar content, and ingredient quality. The lab introduces food deserts and accessibility challenges. Students build meals under budget constraints while maintaining nutrition balance. The simulation shows long-term effects of dietary habits. It reinforces critical thinking about food systems.

Lab modules

Work through each module in order. Mark each one complete to unlock the post-quiz.

Reading food (and labels)

Marketing words on the front of the package are designed to confuse you. The real story is on the back, in the Nutrition Facts panel and the ingredient list. Five minutes of skill saves a lifetime of being sold to.

Nutrition Facts basics

· Serving size — check it. ‘120 calories’ may be per ¼ of the bag
· Added sugars — different from natural sugars in fruit
· Sodium — adults aim <2,300mg/day; many ‘healthy’ foods exceed
· Fiber — most kids get half what they need
· Protein — anchor of fullness

Ingredient list rules

· Ingredients listed by weight — first 3 dominate
· If you can’t pronounce 5+ items, it’s ultra-processed
· ‘Sugar’ has 50+ names (high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose, fruit juice concentrate)
· Whole-food ingredient lists are SHORT

Ultra-processed food (UPF)

Foods made mostly of industrial substances you wouldn’t cook with — flavorings, emulsifiers, hydrogenated oils. Multiple large studies link UPF intake to higher rates of obesity, depression, cancer, and early death — beyond what calories alone explain.

Key takeaways from this module

Front-of-box claims are marketing.
Nutrition Facts + ingredient list tell the real story.
Ultra-processed food is its own risk category.
Whole food ingredient lists are short.

Hands-on activity: Reading a nutrition label

Order the smart way to read a nutrition label.

1.Calories per serving
2.Ingredient list (top 3 matter most)
3.Saturated fat & sodium
4.Fiber & protein
5.Check serving size first
6.Added sugars

Post-quiz locked

Finish all 4 lab modules (0/4 done). Complete the hands-on activity above.