Posted: April 20th, 2017
Analyze the nutritional components of the food you select; and in your own words, answer the following questions using the USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory Web site as listed in the unit Web resources:
Background: In this assignment, you will investigate the chemical composition of the foods we eat as our bodies break down food by the digestive process.
The USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory has posted a resource through which you can investigate the chemical composition of foods. Go to the USDA Lab Link at USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory:http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
Instructions
- Type in a keyword, then select a food group using the drop-down arrow, then click “submit.”
- This pulls up a menu with lots of choices.
- Choose one food choice, then click “submit”
- Next choose a portion size, then click “submit”
- This will bring up the nutritional information needed to complete the assignment.
Example:
- Keyword: Apple
- Select Food Group: Fruits and Fruit Juice
- Apples, raw, with skin.
- One medium
Assignment details:
A. Nutrition: Analyze the nutritional components of the food you select; and in your own words, answer the following questions using the USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory Web site as listed in the unit Web resources:
- What was the food and portion size you chose?
- Describe its composition in terms of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
- How many calories are in your food item? (Found in the Database as Energy – kcal)
- List some of the most common vitamins and minerals in this food item.
- Are there other important nutritional components of this food item? If so, list these. If not, say so.
B. Water:
- How much of your food item is water?
- Provide one reason why water is important for life. To adequately answer this question, it will be necessary to explain a reason for water’s importance based upon its chemical and /or physical properties.
C. Biological Molecule:
- State the most abundant category of biological molecule in your food: carbohydrates, lipids, or proteins.
- Describe the structure of this type of molecule, and its primary function(s). This section will not be a one sentence answer. In order to adequately “describe” an entire category of biological molecules, you will need to briefly review their basic molecular structures and functions.