FOOD FACT/FOOD FICTION

• Food science
• Science
• +1
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)
• Primary Education

FOOD FACT

or 

FOOD FICTION?

This lesson was created by the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems: www.foodcocentre.org 

Making healthy food choices can be confusing! 

In this lesson, we'll use scientific evidence to separate FOOD FACT from FOOD FICTION...

                  

                 

                  

Citrus fruits are the best source of Vitamin C...

FACT

FICTION

FICTION!

Red peppers are vitamin C superheroes! While oranges are famous for their vitamin C content, raw red peppers actually contain more than double the the amount found in oranges. 

 

Vitamin C is a vital nutrient with a wide range of health benefits - such as helping your immune system stay strong and your skin heal faster!

 

Oranges = 52mg/100g, red peppers = 126mg/100g)

There are 9 teaspoons of sugar in a can of cola...

FACT

FICTION

There’s around 10.6 g of sugar per 100ml. This means that a 330ml can contains around 35g - which is about nine teaspoons of sugar. 

Adults should have no more than 30g of free sugars a day - so a single can of cola is already more than an adult's daily sugar allowance!

Too much sugar can damage your teeth and also make it harder to keep your energy balanced during the day. 

 

 

FACT!

Carrots help you see in the dark...

FACT

FICTION

This is a myth, but carrots do contain Vitamin A which is important for good vision, immune function, and maintaining healthy organs. 

One large carrot provides 67% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A!

Carrots are also a good vegetable source of fiber, with a large carrot offering more than two grams of fiber.

 

 

 

FICTION!

All carbohydrates are unhealthy...

FACT

FICTION

FICTION!

Carbohydrates are important for the healthy functioning of the body, but certain types of carbs are better for you than others. Complex carbohydrates are a necessary part of a healthy and balanced diet. Fruits and vegetables also contain essential carbohydrates.

Fibre is a type of carbohydrate that we do not digest. It's important for gut health, as it helps move food through our digestive system. 

 

 

Globally, food waste creates more greenhouse gas emissions than the aviation sector...

FACT

FICTION

According to the United Nations, food waste now accounts for up to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions – more than the entire aviation sector. 

In the UK, by weight, most food waste comes from households (60%), followed by farms (15%), manufacturing (13%) hospitality and food service (10%) and retail (2%).    

The value of the edible parts of household food waste (including waste to the sewer and home composting) in 2021 amounted to £17 billion. 

That's equivalent to £250 per person each year in the UK, or £1,000 for a family of four!

 

 

 

FACT!

https://www.earth.com/news/food-waste-has-a-surprising-impact-on-climate-change/

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7552/CBP-7552.pdf

All foods are healthier if eaten raw...

FACT

FICTION

FICTION!

Many foods offer more nutrients when they are eaten raw than cooked, but in some foods, vitamins become more available for your body to use after cooking. Here are some examples:

Spinach: Nutrients like iron, magnesium, calcium and zinc are more available for absorption when spinach is cooked.

Tomatoes: Cooking greatly increases the availability of lycopene in tomatoes.

Carrots: Cooked carrots contain more beta-carotene than raw carrots.

Potatoes: The starch in potatoes is nearly indigestible until a potato is cooked.

 

 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/raw-food-vs-cooked-food

Most people in high-income countries eat more protein than they need...

FACT

FICTION

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. adults are eating an average of 2.9 ounces of protein per day - roughly 20% more than is recommended.

Protein is a macronutrient required for growth, maintenance and repair of cells and tissues. It is important to get protein from a range of different foods including beans, lentils, chickpeas that are also naturally low in fat and high in fibre. Many vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli and peas also contain surprising amounts of protein! 

 

 

FACT!

https://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutritional-information/protein/

https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/protein-is-important-but-were-eating-too-much-experts-say/#:~:text=But%20people%20are%20likely%20eating%20too%20much%20of,need%20more%20protein%2C%20but%20because%20it%E2%80%99s%20a%20moneymaker.

'Low-fat' foods are the healthiest...

FACT

FICTION

FICTION!

Many 'low-fat' products are high in sugar and additives. Balanced diets with healthy fats (such as those found in nuts, seeds and oily fish) are more effective for long-term health. We need some fat in our diets to help us absorb the vitamins A, D, E and K. 

The government recommends that total fat intake should not make up more than 35% of our total daily calories. Too much fat in our diet may increase the risk of obesity, heart disease and stroke.

 

 

https://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutritional-information/fat/

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/nutrition/truth-about-low-fat-foods

The environmental impact of producing bananas is low... 

FACT

FICTION

FACT!

Despite being a tropical import, bananas are energy efficient as they use natural sunlight to grow. They also come with their own tough skin which acts as natural packaging, compared to soft berries that need plastic packaging to keep them in perfect condition. 

They score well using standard sustainability metrics:

GHG emissions: Low –  Due to efficient mass production

Water Use: Low – Water-smart for a tropical fruit

Land Use: Low – High yield per hectare

Nutrition: Bananas contain key nutrients like fiber, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins that support your health.

https://www.sustainabledietitian.co.uk/the-sustainability-of-bananas/#:~:text=In%20terms%20of%20sustainability%2C%20bananas%20have%20a%20fairly,2%20e%20per%20kilo%2C%20this%20seems%20quite%20small.

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