Macromolecules: You are what you eat

Engage:
A group of students were discussing the elements found in the human body. Which student do
you agree with and why?
Marco
: Hydrogen is the most common element found in the body because it bonds with carbon
and oxygen.
Eli
: Oxygen is the most common element found in the body because our bodies are mostly
water.
Jose
: Calcium is the most common element found in the body because our bones need calcium.
Benjamin
: Carbon is the most common element found in the body because all life on Earth is
carbon-based.
Who do you agree with and why? Answer this question on Google Classroom!
IagreewithMarcobecausewaterisH2Oandthatistwohydrogenandoneoxygenand
yourbodyismademostlyofwater.

Macromolecules:Youarewhatyoueat.

Introduction:
All organisms are composed of compounds containing common elements. All
organisms take in matter and rearrange atoms through chemical reactions to form molecules
essential for life and to obtain the energy they need to carry out life processes.Animals, such as
humans, consume food in order to obtain the energy they need to power their bodies and the
matter they need to produce more cells in their bodies. The atoms in the sugar molecules
formed by plants during photosynthesis and ingested by animals are used to create the
macromolecules (e.g., carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids) found in all
multicellular organisms.Macromolecules are large molecules found within cells and may consist
of thousands of atoms. Carbohydrates and proteins are polymers, formed by repeating subunits
called monomers. Lipids have various roles within a cell, including serving as energy storage
molecules. In this lab, we will focus on the three macromolecules that are important energy
sources for biological organisms: carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. In this assignment, you will
examine the common elements found in organisms, explore the nutritional content of your
food, and determine which macromolecules you are ingesting.

Explore:
Watch the video
:
How to Read a Nutrition Facts Label (4:43)
Purposeful Viewing: Answer the following.
1.

What are calories?

the energy content of a macromolecule

2.

Where do the calories in your food come from?

the carbs and sugar in your food

3.

True or False (circle one): 2% milk has more nutrients than skim milk.
true

Task 1: Nutrition Facts Labels

1.

Find at least 6 nutrition labels from food items you have eaten (or will eat).
2.

For each label, transfer the information onto the data sheet.

Nutrition Facts Label Data Sheet

Food Item # 1:
______applesauce__________
What are the
main ingredients
of this food
item? apples
Identify the TOTAL GRAMS of
a. Carbohydrates: _____13____
b. Fats: ____0_____
c. Proteins: ___less than 1______
d. Calcium: ___0_____
e. Iron: ___2%____
f. Sodium: ____15___

Food Item # 2:
_tomato sauce_____________
What are the
main ingredients
of this food item?
tomatoes
Identify the TOTAL GRAMS of
a. Carbohydrates: ____4_____
b. Fats: _____0____
c. Proteins: _____1____
d. Calcium: ____0____
e. Iron: __4%_____
f. Sodium: ___260 mg____

hat surprised you as you read the nutrition

W
facts for this food item?
the amount of sodium

What surprised you as you read the nutrition

facts for this food item?
the amount of sodium

Food Item # 3:
______garbanzo beans___
What are the
main ingredients
of this food
item? beans
Identify the TOTAL GRAMS of
a. Carbohydrates: ___17______
b. Fats: ____1.5_____
c. Proteins: ____6_____
d. Calcium: ___4%_____
e. Iron: ___8%____
f. Sodium: ___360 mg____
What surprised you as you read the nutrition
facts for this food item?
the amount of protein

Food Item # 4:
__________ramen___________
What are the
main ingredients
of this food item?
enriched wheat flour
Identify the TOTAL GRAMS of
a. Carbohydrates: ____39_____
b. Fats: ____12_____
c. Proteins: ___7______
d. Calcium: ____less than 2%____
e. Iron: ___15%____
f. Sodium: ___1190 mg____
What surprised you as you read the nutrition

facts for this food item?

the amount of sodium

Food Item # 5:
______yoplait__________
What are the
main ingredients
of this food
item? milk and peaches
Identify the TOTAL GRAMS of
a. Carbohydrates: _____16____
b. Fats: ____0_____
c. Proteins: ___5______
d. Calcium: ____15%____
e. Iron: ___0____
f. Sodium: ____80 mg___
What surprised you as you read the nutrition
facts for this food item?
the amount of calcium

Food Item # 6:
_____black beans____________
What are the
main ingredients
of this food item?
beans
Identify the TOTAL GRAMS of
a. Carbohydrates: ____19_____
b. Fats: ___0.5______
c. Proteins: ____7_____
d. Calcium: ____4%____
e. Iron: ___10%____
f. Sodium: ___460 mg____
What surprised you as you read the nutrition

facts for this food item?

the amount of carbs in this item

Explain:
Read:
Handout A-
Macromolecules in My Food
Purposeful Reading: Answer the following.
1.

Describe the function of carbohydrates in your body.

Carbohydrates give you energy and keep your body running.

2.

How are simple sugars used for energy compared to more complex sugars like the starch
in pasta?
Simple sugar gives you short term energy and can be digested quickly. Complex sugars take
longer to digest.
3.

The building blocks (smaller subunits) of proteins are __________.

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
4.

Provide examples of foods high in protein.

meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, and cheese

5.

If your body is capable of making only certain amino acids, how do we get the essential
amino acids we need?
from proteins

6.

What word should you always associate with lipids?

fats
7.

Describe the function of lipids.

they prevent triglycerides from mixing with water
8.

Triglycerides which are

a.

Solid at room temperature are called _________fats_____________

b.

Liquid at room temperature are called __________oils____________

Elaborate:
Read the Handout
: Handout B-
Chemistry of the Human Body
Purposeful Reading: Answer the following.
1. What four elements make up the largest percentage of your body weight?
oxygen hydrogen carbon

2. How does the information in the handout compare to how you answered the Engage
question? Do you need to revise your answer? If so, what is your new response and
why?

Evaluate
:
1. What types of organisms are found at the base of the food chain?

2. What atoms are rearranged by plants in during photosynthesis?

3.

Many patterns exist in nature. Based upon what you learned about the common elements
that make up humans, which four elements are the most common in plants?

4. What atoms are found in each of the following macromolecules?

Carbohydrates
Proteins:
Lipids:

5. Make a connection
: How does an organism obtain the atoms it needs to build

macromolecules?