Find 5 foods you eat regularly and determine the kilocalorie content according to the number of servings you eat at a time.
Use this information to calculate the calories and joules.
How do food scientists determine the number of kilocalories that are reported on food labels?
How does your body use this energy?
Explain if your body is able to use all of the energy.
Food | Serving size | Calories | Kilojoules |
---|---|---|---|
Oatmeal | 1/2 cup | 150 | 630 |
Apple | 1 medium | 95 | 400 |
Banana | 1 medium | 105 | 440 |
Yogurt | 1 cup | 150 | 630 |
Almonds | 1 ounce | 160 | 670 |
To calculate the calories and joules, I used the following formulas:
For example, the calorie content of 1/2 cup of oatmeal is 150 kilocalories. To calculate the calorie content in joules, we would do the following:
Food scientists determine the number of kilocalories that are reported on food labels by using a method called bomb calorimetry. This method involves burning the food in a sealed container and measuring the amount of heat that is released. The heat that is released is then converted into kilocalories.
The body uses the energy from food to power its various functions, such as movement, digestion, and cell repair. The body also stores some of the energy from food in the form of fat.
The body is not able to use all of the energy from food. Some of the energy is lost in the form of heat, and some of the energy is not absorbed by the body. The amount of energy that is lost or not absorbed depends on the food that is eaten and the individual’s metabolism.
Here are some additional details about the foods I listed above: