Welcome students to the lesson. Briefly introduce today’s topic and objectives. Say: “Today we’re going to learn how to decode the Nutrition Facts label so you can make healthier snack choices.”

Explain that every packaged food has a Nutrition Facts label regulated by the FDA. Show an example label on the board. Ask: “Who has ever looked at one?”

Define serving size: the amount typically eaten in one sitting. Illustrate using a measuring cup or visual comparison (e.g., 1 cup = a baseball). Emphasize importance: all other numbers are based on serving size.

Discuss calories as a measure of energy. Ask students what activities they would power with 100 calories. Highlight that calorie needs vary by activity level.

Cover macronutrients. Explain difference between healthy fats and unhealthy fats. Ask: “What foods have you seen high in saturated fat?”

Explain the difference between naturally occurring sugars and added sugars. Share recommended limits and ask students to guess which common snack is high in added sugars.

Cover sodium and micronutrients. Explain why sodium is limited and why vitamins/minerals matter. Encourage students to look for labels with higher %DV for vitamins.

Define % Daily Value (%DV). Explain how to interpret low (≤5%) vs. high (≥20%). Show examples on the sample label.

Demonstrate comparing two snack labels side by side. Ask students to identify which is healthier based on calories, sugar, and %DV.

Recap the main points. Use a quick poll: “What surprised you most?” Tell students next they’ll practice at stations reading real labels.