labels! and packages! and marketing! oh my!

Some classes missed this week's nutrition class because of Veteran's Day. Big bummer! Hopefully the principal will reschedule the classes so everyone can have the opportunity to learn about the Nutrition Facts label, food product packaging design, and marketing-- all of which affect our ability to make healthy food choices.



We learned about food labels, packaging, and marketing in the context of cereal.

Check out these two bags of cereal. They both have the same exact cereal in them; the 'only' difference is that one bag has chocolate in them. In all classes, most students would have rather bought the cereal that came with chocolate instead of the bag with no chocolate!

I guess it shouldn't really be a surprise because who doesn't like chocolate?? What we learn from this example, however, is that marketing can affect what we eat! Food companies [those who make and sell food products] want us to buy their food because if we do, they make money; so they use marketing tactics, like adding a prize [like candy or a toy] to their product so we will buy it. Giving away treats isn't the only way they get us to buy their food either. Smart, clever, artistic people work hard to design the package foods come in.. Take a look at these cereals...



Look at the Honey Nut Cherrios box. Awww.. what a cute little bee cartoon character! I've seen him before!. ..Now look at the Life cereal box. Those girls: they look happy, nice, and like kids I can imagine being friends with. These are feelings this picture on the box can make you feel; it might even have the power to make you want to buy and eat this cereal. Can you believe it??

This wouldn't be a problem if all food was healthy but, unfortunately, not all food is healthy. So it's up to us to be aware of not falling into marketing traps, like the packaging of food, and start reading food labels so we can decide for ourselves whether something is healthy or not.

Here are some key words we can look for when we buy cereal..



We also found out what our cereals were made of from the Ingredients list. Cereal's main ingredients are some type(s) of grain [like wheat, oat, and corn] and some type(s) of sweetener [like sugar and honey].



Then, in each class, we had a contest. Students had the opportunity to design their very own cereal box front. Let me tell you, we have some real artists and there was some great competition! Students voted for their favorites.

Below are the works of the Cereal-Box-Design Contest winners from each class. Congratulations!



And, remember, from now on...

• Beware of marketing and packages and how they affect your food choices [and your health]!


• Take advantage of the Nutrition Facts label! It's got a lot of information that can help you determine whether a food product is healthy or not.

Happy reading and eating!