Resources:
1-Text book
2-Nutrition label of your choosing
3-FDA Guide to reading and using nutrition labels

Instructions:
1-Review the sections on biomolecules in your text
2-Read the FDA guide to reading and using nutrition labels
3-Find a nutritional label of a food that interests you and analyze it with respect to the prompts below.
4-Respond to seven prompts (1-7) in a single MS Word document, using complete sentences. Your responses will be evaluated for completeness, content, comprehension, clarity, and citation.

Introduction:
Nutrition Labels and Biomolecules

The four major classes of biomolecules made and used by living systems include Proteins, Lipids, Carbohydrates, and Nucleic Acids. These molecules are the building blocks of cells and organisms such as ourselves. As humans, we acquire these nutrients through the foods we eat. It is therefore important to understand how our foods are fulfilling the needs of our bodies.

Prompts:
Food Expectations:
1-What is the food you have chosen? Why are you interested in learning about this food?
Do you have any expectations before you examine the label in detail?
2-Serving Size and Calories
What is the serving size of this food? Does it match well with your typical consumption? (Do you usually eat more or less than the serving size?)
How many Calories are found per serving of this food?
3-Consider the lipids in this food
How many Calories come from lipids/fats per serving? What percent daily value of fat is found per serving?
Is there any cholesterol present in this food?
Are there more saturated fats or unsaturated fats per serving?
4-Consider the carbohydrates in this food.
How many grams of total carbohydrates are included per serving? How many of those grams are simple carbohydrates (sugars)?
Many times cellulose is a component of insoluble dietary fiber, while other plant carbohydrates form solubule dietary fiber. What percent daily value of dietary fiber is found in a serving of this food?
Simple sugars can be digested and used immediately, while complex carbohydrates take longer to digest. Based on this, is this food geared for quick or long-term energy? (Is there a greater proportion of simple sugars or complex carbohydrates in this food?)
5-Proteins:
How many grams of proteins are found per serving of this food?
Can you identify the source of the protein from the ingredient list? (look for ingredients that ultimately came from living organisms).
6-Nucleic Acids: Nucleic acids are not typically listed on nutritional labels. However, nucleic acids depend heavily on the element phosphorus, a mineral required by the body. Examine a diagram of nucleotides or a DNA molecule, such as figure 2.22 and 2.23, and answer the questions below.
What percent daily value of phosphorous is provided by a serving of this food? Why is phosphorous needed for nucleic acids?
Many vitamins such as niacin, thiamine, folic acid, and B vitamins are chemically related to nucleic acids. Is this a food good source of any of these vitamins?
7-Overall Nutrition
How would you rate this food as a source of biomolecules? Were you surprised by anything you found? Why or why not?