Are You Sure It's Fat Free

Are You Sure It’s Fat Free

Dan Christianson

MAT 126

Melinda Hollingshed

November 15, 2010

      Watching what we eat and dieting seems to be a very popular topic of discussion in many circles. Obesity in today’s society is classified as an epidemic. I know that I personally do not pay attention to the nutrition labels on the foods I eat, but after these exercises I may start.

      According to our text, the food industry bases its figures on the weight of the product not the calories it contains. Here are the results I came up with, following the guidelines of multiplying the number of grams of fat as labeled. I figured each product both ways as shown in the text. I also chose items for each breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

      Bisquick Pancake Mix:
      160 calories
      5g of fat
      5x29=145
      5/145 x 100 = 3.4%

      Correct calculations:
      5x5=25
      25/160 x 100 = 15.6%

      Chunky Soup:
      140 calories
      3g of fat
      3x29=87
      3/87 x 100 = 3.4%

      Correct calculations:
      3x3=9
      9/140 x 100 = 6.42%
      Tombstone Frozen Pizza :
      360 calories
      14g of fat
      14x29=406
      14/406 x 100 = 3.44%

      Correct calculations:
      14x14=196
      196/360 x 100 = 54.4%

      In conclusion, it is very apparent the calculations differ a great deal. In each figure, the percent was greater in each scenario when calculated the correct way. It also appears that I may want to stop eating frozen pizza’s!

      Reference:
      Bluman, A.G. (2005). Mathematics in Our World   (1st ed.) Ashford University Custom Edition. New York: McGraw Hill. [continues]

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