Flavor Factory Slides Health Lab
FLAVOR FACTORY
Decoding Sugar, Salt, & Fat
MEET THE BIG THREE
SUGAR
The Energy Rush. Found in fruits, sweets, and hidden in sauces.
SALT
The Flavor Booster. Also known as Sodium. Found in processed snacks.
FAT
The Fuel Reserve. Comes in "Healthy" and "Caution" types.
Ingredient #1
SUGAR:
THE ROLLERCOASTER
Short Term: Energy spikes followed by a "crash" that makes you tired and cranky.The Brain: Excessive sugar can make it harder to focus or remember things.Long Term: Increased risk of tooth decay, weight gain, and Type 2 Diabetes.
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"Americans eat about 17 teaspoons of added sugar every day!"
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Hiding Spots:
Breads, pizza, deli meats, and canned soups are some of the biggest sodium sources!
Ingredient #2
SALT:
THE WATER MAGNET
Water Retention: Too much salt makes your body hold onto extra water.Heart Pressure: This extra water puts pressure on your heart and blood vessels.Kidney Work: Your kidneys have to work overtime to filter out the extra sodium.
Ingredient #3
FAT:
THE FUEL TANK
Friendly Fats
Avocados, nuts, olive oil. They protect your brain and heart.
Caution Fats
Saturated and Trans fats. Found in fried food. Can clog arteries.
Your body needs some fat to absorb vitamins and protect your organs!
Brain Power! 🧠
Your brain is 60% fat!
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LABEL DETECTIVE
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories 250
Total Fat 12g 15%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Sodium 470mg 20%
Total Sugars 15g
Incl. 10g Added Sugars 20%
The 5/20 Rule
5% DV or less is LOW.
Check the Daily Value (%DV). For sugar, salt, and saturated fat, we generally want to stay closer to 5% per serving.
LAB MISSION: ACTIVATED
Use your Detective Log to analyze the mystery meals at your table. Can you find the "Hidden Three"?
1
Read the labels carefully.
2
Use the 5/20 Rule to judge.
3
Discuss with your team.
Detective Log Worksheet Detective Log: Flavor Factory
Health Lab // Unit: Nutrition
Agent Name:
Date:
Part 1: The Briefing
Fill in the missing intelligence reports based on our lab presentation.
Subject: Added Sugars
When we eat too much sugar, our body goes through an energy followed by a . Over time, high sugar diets can damage our and lead to Type 2 Diabetes.
Subject: Sodium (Salt)
Sodium acts like a "water magnet." Too much of it increases the amount of water in your blood, which puts extra pressure on your and makes your work harder to filter it out.
Subject: Saturated/Trans Fats
While some fats are healthy, "Caution Fats" can build up in our over many years, making it harder for blood to flow through our body.
Part 2: The Label Decoder (5/20 Rule)
5% DV or less Target for Caution Ingredients
20% DV or more Warning: High Amount
"Check the % Daily Value for Sodium, Saturated Fat, and Added Sugars. If it's over 20%, that food is considered high in that ingredient for just one serving!"
Part 3: Field Investigation
Rotate through the Lab Stations. For each mystery food, record the data and decide if it's a "Go" food or "Caution" food based on the 5/20 rule.
Food Item Sugar %DV Sodium %DV Sat. Fat %DV Detective's Verdict Mystery A Reasoning... Mystery B Reasoning... Mystery C Reasoning... Mystery D Reasoning...
Final Mission Report
Identify one "Hidden Ingredient" that surprised you today. Why is it dangerous to consume too much of it?
What is one healthy swap you could make in your own diet to improve your health?
Mystery Meal Cards MYSTERY A
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Nutrition Facts
Servings per container: 1 (12 oz)
Calories 150
Total Fat 0g 0%
Sodium 45mg 2%
Total Sugars 39g
Incl. 39g Added Sugars 78%
MYSTERY B
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Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 cup (240g)
Calories 180
Total Fat 6g 8%
Sodium 890mg 39%
Total Sugars 4g 8%
MYSTERY C
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Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 oz (28g)
Calories 160
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Sodium 170mg 7%
Total Sugars 1g 2%
MYSTERY D
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Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 container (150g)
Calories 140
Total Fat 2g 3%
Sodium 65mg 3%
Total Sugars 24g
Incl. 18g Added Sugars 36%
Lab Card Instructions
Setup:
Cut out these four cards.
Place them at different stations around the room.
Divide students into "Detective Teams" of 3-4.
Rotate teams every 5 minutes to a new mystery food.
The Hidden Truths:
A (Soda): Massive Added Sugar (78% DV).
B (Soup): Huge Sodium (39% DV). Canned foods often hide salt.
C (Chips): High Saturated Fat (15% DV) and Fat (13% DV).
D (Yogurt): "Low Fat" often means "High Sugar" (36% DV).
Flavor Factory Teacher Guide FLAVOR FACTORY
Facilitator Guide
Lesson Overview
In this session, students become "Flavor Detectives" to uncover the biological effects of sugar, salt, and fat. They will learn how these ingredients impact heart health, brain function, and energy levels, while mastering the "5/20 Rule" for reading nutrition labels.
Learning Objectives
Identify the primary effects of sugar, salt, and fat on the human body.
Apply the 5/20 rule to evaluate nutrition labels for "Caution Ingredients."
Analyze common processed foods to find hidden levels of sodium and sugar.
Quick Specs
Duration
45-60 Minutes
Grade Level
6th Grade (Ages 11-12)
Materials
Slides, Logs, Lab Cards
Step-by-Step Procedure
01
Introduction (10 min)
Use the Flavor Factory Slides to introduce the "Big Three." Focus on the energy rollercoaster of sugar, the water retention effects of salt, and the artery impact of saturated fats. Hook students with the "Brain is 60% fat" fact.
02
Detective Training (10 min)
Teach the 5/20 Rule . Explain that Daily Value (%DV) is based on a whole day's diet. Students should fill out Part 1 and 2 of the Detective Log during this phase.
03
Lab Mission (20-30 min)
Place the Mystery Meal Cards at stations. Students rotate in groups, identifying the %DV for the three target ingredients and providing a "Verdict" (Go vs. Caution) based on the 5/20 rule.
04
Debrief & Reflection (5-10 min)
Discuss the findings. Which food was the most surprising? (Usually the low-fat yogurt or canned soup). Have students complete the Final Mission Report reflection.
Discussion Prompts
"Why do you think companies add so much sugar to 'Low Fat' foods?"
Key concept: Fat adds flavor; when it's removed, sugar is often added to make it taste good.
"How can you feel the effects of salt in your body after a salty meal?"
Key concept: Thirst, puffiness/bloating, and feeling sluggish.
"Why is it better to get sugar from an apple rather than a soda?"
Key concept: Fiber slows down sugar absorption, preventing the 'crash'.
Support Strategies
For Scaffolding:
Provide students with highlighters to mark the %DV column on labels. Focus only on the 'Sodium' line if students are overwhelmed by the full label.
Flavor Factory Answer Key Detective Log: ANSWER KEY
Health Lab // Flavor Factory
Part 1: The Briefing
Sugar Report:
Energy Spike / Rush followed by a Crash. Over time can damage Teeth / Focus.
Salt Report:
Pressure on your Heart / Arteries and makes your Kidneys work harder.
Fat Report:
Build up in our Arteries / Blood Vessels over many years.
The 5/20 Tool
5% or less: Low amount. Good for salt, sugar, and bad fats.20% or more: High amount. Proceed with caution.
Part 3: Field Investigation
Item Sugar %DV Sodium %DV Sat. Fat %DV Detective's Verdict A: Soda 78% 2% 0% CAUTION. Extremely high added sugar. No fiber to slow it down. B: Soup 8% 39% 8% CAUTION. Very high sodium. Bad for heart pressure. C: Chips 2% 7% 15% CAUTION. Saturated fat is high (near 20% limit). Total fat 13%. D: Yogurt 36% 3% 3% CAUTION. High added sugar despite being "Low Fat."
Sample Reflection Answers
Surprising Ingredient:
"I was surprised by how much sugar is in yogurt. I thought it was always healthy, but it has 36% of my daily sugar in one small cup!"
Healthy Swap:
"Instead of a soda (78% sugar), I could drink water with a slice of lemon. This would help my body avoid the energy crash and protect my teeth."
