• To understand food labels and the importance of eating "other" in moderation

• How to locate calorie, sugar and fat information on nutrition food labels and apply this information in making healthy food choices

• 30 minutes

• 1 single serving pack (1.69 oz.) of plain M & Ms per participant
• 1 copy of M & M survey for each participant. (You will need the free Acrobat Reader program to view this file.)
• 1 pencil for each participant
• 1 napkin
• 1 test tube with 10 grams of fat or other visual showing 10 grams of fat
• 1 test tube with 31 grams of sugar or other visual showing 31 grams of sugar

• Purchase M & Ms (Dollar General Store sells them 3 packs for $1.00.)
• Make copies of M & M survey, using brightly colored paper.

Activity

• Give participants a copy of the M & M survey and ask them to write their predictions in the first column.
• After they have recorded their predictions, give each participant a napkin and a package of M & Ms.
• Ask them to open the bag of M & Ms, pour them on the napkin and begin actual count.
• Write actual count in the second column.
• After they have completed the survey, compare the predictions and actual count, asking questions such as, "How close were your predictions?"
• Show participants the test tubes and visuals of fat and sugar and discuss the nutrition facts or label.