This document provides instructions for a lab on interpreting food energy content from nutrition labels. Students will collect 6 food labels, calculate calories per gram and calories per 100 grams for each food, record the results in a data table, and create a bar graph comparing calories per 100 grams for each food. The objectives are to graph and interpret data on the energy content of various foods. Analysis questions ask students to identify foods with the most/fewest calories, why standardizing to the same sample size is helpful, why calories are listed by serving size rather than 100 grams, and how to use calorie information.

1. Bio 103 - Introduction to Biology
Chapter 6: Cellular Respiration
Interpreting Labels: Sorted Food Energy
Background: Food supplies us with matter build living tissue and energy to do work. The energy content of
foods is measured in Calories. These are actually kilocalories so 1 Calorie (note the capital “c”) = 1000 calories
(note the lowercase “c”). How do foods differ in their energy content? In this lab you will interpret data from
the labels of food products to answer this question.
Objectives:
Graph and interpret data pertaining to the energy content of various foods.
Materials:
• Food product labels from 6 different foods
• Graphing program (Excel)
Preparation:
1. Collect nutrition information from six different food products. To make it more interesting to you, get
food labels from products you regularly consume.
Procedure:
1. Select one label. Find the serving size and calories.
2. Calculate the number of calories per gram of food. Divide the number of calories per serving by the
serving size (in grams). If necessary, convert ounces to grams by multiplying the serving size by 28.4
g/oz.
3. Find the number of calories per 100 gram sample. Multiply calories per gram by 100. Record the results
in Data Table 1.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the other food labels.
5. Make a bar graph that compares the calorie content for 100-gram samples of each of the foods in Data
Table 1. Make the graph anyway you can. If you can’t get access to a graphing program, be creative and
show the data in some graphical way.
Data Table 1:
Grams per Calories per Calories per Calories per 100
Food
Serving Serving gram grams
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success = preparation + execution

2. Analysis:
1. Which foods, in general, contain the most Calories? The fewest Calories?
2. Why is it helpful to convert the measurements to the same sample size?
3. Why is Calorie content on the label stated in terms of a serving size rather than in terms of a 100 gram
sample?
4. How should a person put information about the Calorie content to use?
5. Don’t forget to construct the bar graph as described in Procedure step 5.
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success = preparation + execution