Attachment S-2 Grade 7 Informational Text Articles

Attachment S-2: Grade 7 Informational Text Articles

United States Department of Agriculture

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7TH GRADE | INFORMATIONAL TEXT ARTICLE 

Simple Switches for a
Healthier Eating Pattern
What is An Eating Pattern?

Vocabulary

Words are
When we think of patterns we usually think of a colorful design that repeats like
in bold and
on checkered shirts, plaid shorts, and striped pants. In music, we hear repeating
underlined.
patterns in the lyrics and the rhythm. Patterns are everywhere. Not only do we see
and hear patterns, but our lives follow them, too. An eating pattern describes the
kinds of foods you eat over time. Think about the foods you eat frequently, and the foods you eat
only once in a while. This is your eating pattern. Students like you can make simple switches within
the food groups to create a healthier eating pattern. Whether you are making choices at a fast food
restaurant, choosing between snacks, or making choices in your school cafeteria, you have the
power to create a healthier eating pattern and choose more nutritious foods.

How Middle Schoolers Eat
According to the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans (DGA), if you are like
the average middle school student
you probably eat more added sugars,
saturated fats, and sodium than is
healthful. Research shows that most
kids in middle school are eating almost
twice as much added sugar, over 1,000
milligrams of extra sodium, and are
exceeding the maximum recommended
amount of saturated fat each day. Most
middle school students are eating too
many sweets, sodas, hamburgers, tacos,
hot dogs and other foods that are major
sources of added sugars, saturated fat,
and sodium. Dietary patterns with too
much of those nutrients may contribute
to health problems such as heart disease,
type 2 diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis.

MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
SODIUM RECOMMENDED FOR
9-13 YEAR OLDS:

ACTUAL AMOUNT OF
SODIUM CONSUMED:

IMAGE TO BE UPDATED
TO REMOVE LINE ON
SHADING FOR SALT PILE
2,200 mg

3,200 mg

MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ADDED
SUGARS RECOMMENDED FOR
9-13 YEAR OLDS:

ACTUAL AMOUNT OF ADDED
SUGARS CONSUMED:

IMAGES TO BE UPDATED
WITH CORRECT AMOUNT
OF SUGAR IN TSP

40g or 10 tsp of sugar

90g or 22 tsp of sugar
1 cube = 1 tsp of sugar
1 tsp = 4 grams
1

7TH GRADE | INFORMATIONAL TEXT ARTICLE 

What’s the Big Deal with Too Much Added
Sugar, Saturated Fat, and Sodium?
Take a look at the information below about the health impacts of dietary patterns that are too high
in added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats.

EATING PATTERNS WITH
LOWER AMOUNTS OF
ADDED SUGARS

EATING PATTERNS WITH
LOWER AMOUNTS OF
SODIUM

EATING PATTERNS WHERE
SATURATED FAT
IS REPLACED BY
UNSATURATED FAT

CAN LOWER THE RISK OF HEART
DISEASE, OBESITY, TYPE 2 DIABETES,
SOME CANCERS, AND TOOTH DECAY.

CAN LOWER THE RISK OF
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
(HYPERTENSION).

CAN HELP LOWER THE RISK OF
HEART DISEASE.

Where do the added sugars, saturated fat,
and sodium come from?

AD

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where a
person has too much glucose — the body’s
main source of energy for cells — in their
bloodstream. Although glucose is found
naturally in the body, it also comes from
many foods. Too much glucose in the
blood can cause serious health problems.

U G A RS
S
D
DE

What foods are adding the most added sugar, saturated
fat, and sodium to the diets of middle schoolers? Take
a look at the graphic below to see the top food sources
of added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium in the diets
of middle school students. Do any of these foods show
up frequently in your eating pattern?

DIU
O
S

WHOLE
HOLE
MILK WMILK

Desserts and sweet snacks
(i.e. cookies and candy);
sugar-sweetened beverages
(i.e. sodas and sports drinks)

M

SA
T

Type 2 Diabetes

WHOLE
HOLE
MILK WMILK

Burgers, tacos, and sandwiches; rice,
pasta and other grain-based dishes;
pizza

FAT
TED
A
UR

WHOLE
HOLE
MILK WMILK

Burgers, tacos, and sandwiches;
desserts and sweet snacks; higher
fat milk/yogurt; pizza

2

7TH GRADE | INFORMATIONAL TEXT ARTICLE 

Simple Switches: The Middle School Edition
If you're following the typical middle school dietary pattern with lots of foods that are high in
sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars, you may be on the road to health issues now and in the
future. But there are some simple switches that you can make to include more tasty and nutritious
foods in your daily eating pattern whether you’re eating fast food, a meal at home, food from
school, or a snack.

TYPICAL CHOICES

SIMPLE SWITCHES

MENU

MENU

MEAL

NUTRITION INFO

MEAL

NUTRITION INFO

MEAL 1:
Burger,
Fries,
Large (32 oz)
soda

1523g sodium
90g added sugars
34g saturated fats

MEAL 1:
Grilled chicken
sandwich,
Salad,
Water

1091g sodium
5g added sugars
5g saturated fats

MEAL 2:
Pepperoni
pizza,
Sweet tea

620g sodium
45g added sugars
5g saturated fats

SNACK:
Cheese puffs,
20 oz. Sports
drink

525g sodium
1g added sugars
4g saturated fats

345g sodium
30g added sugars
2g saturated fats

MEAL 2:
Slice of plain
pizza,
Green beans,
Orange slices,
Low fat (1%)
milk

SNACK:
33g sodium
Lite popcorn,
0g added sugars
Sparkling water 0g saturated fats

Tips and Tricks for Healthier Meals and Snacks
Now you see how simple switches can make a huge difference in the healthfulness of your overall
dietary pattern. Here are three easy tips tailored to the busy lives of middle school students, to
help you figure out how to make simple switches for a healthier eating style.

1. When eating out compare nutrition information between foods and make a healthier choice.
Most restaurants have the full nutrition information including the added sugars, saturated
fat, and sodium content of their meals listed on their websites. Take a look before you order
and choose meals with lower numbers. Another way to avoid added sugars, saturated fats, and
sodium in restaurant meals is to cook more meals at home using healthy ingredients. Check out
What’s Cooking (https://www.whatscooking.fns.usda.gov/) for fresh, tasty and healthy menu
ideas.
3

7TH GRADE | INFORMATIONAL TEXT ARTICLE 

2. Instead of salty snacks and candy, choose
fruits and vegetables. Sodium, added sugars,
and saturated fat can really add up in the
snacks that kids choose. Reach for fruits and
vegetables instead of salty or sugary foods
when it’s time for a snack. Most middle
school students are not eating enough fruits
and vegetables, and snacks can be a good
place to start adding more to your diet.

RECOMMENDED AMOUNT
OF FRUIT: 1.5-2 cups

ACTUAL AMOUNT OF
FRUIT EATEN: 1 cup

IMAGES TO BE UPDATED
WITH CUT-UP FRUIT AND
VEGGIES

3. Swap out the sugar- sweetened beverage
for a healthier drink choice. Choose water
instead of sugar-sweetened beverages and
include low-fat or fat-free milk or 100%
juice. Your intake of added sugars will go way
down if you swap out sugary beverages for a
more wholesome choice.

RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF
VEGETABLES: 1.5-2 cups

ACTUAL AMOUNT OF
VEGETABLES EATEN:
1 cup

Conclusions: Lead the Way With Your Healthy Eating Pattern
Most American adults are still eating too much added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. And 75
percent of all adults in the United States still do not eat enough vegetables, fruits, and dairy.
Wouldn’t it be great if kids set the example? What if kids led the way to a healthy future for
everyone? Make some simple switches and share your wins with your friends and family. Every
food and beverage choice matters.

• Most middle school students are eating too many foods loaded with added sugars, sodium, and
saturated fats.

• Too much added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat are associated with health problems.
• Middle school students can make simple switches in meals and snacks to create a

A

healthier eating pattern.

VOCABULARY
Added sugar: Sugars and syrups that are added to
foods or beverages when they are processed or
prepared.

products such as beef, pork, and chicken, and are
associated with health problems when consumed in
excessive amounts.

Eating pattern: The combination of foods and
beverages that makes up everything an individual eats
over time.

Sodium: A mineral generally present in the form of
salt (sodium) that your body needs in small amounts
to work properly. However, when consumed in
excessive amounts sodium can raise the risk of high
blood pressure (hypertension).

Recommend: to suggest that someone do (something)
Saturated Fats: Fats that are usually solid at room
temperature. They are most often found in animal

Food and Nutrition Service • FNS-XXX • Month 2017 • USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. • http://teamnutrition.usda.gov

4

United States Department of Agriculture

7TH GRADE | INFORMATIONAL TEXT ARTICLE 

Living in the Land of
Added Sugars
Vocabulary
Words are
in bold and
underlined.

Too Much of a Good Thing
You may have heard the expression “everything
in moderation,” but what does that really
mean? Can there really be such a thing as “too
much” when it comes to the things we love
to eat? Think about birthdays, and feeling
sick after eating too much cake. Turns out
we sometimes eat too much of certain foods
without even realizing how it’s affecting our
health. Moderation is important for staying
healthy.

The Problem with Added Sugar
The amount of added sugar in the food supply
has grown dramatically over the past century.
In 1909, there were 84 pounds of added sugars
available per person in the food supply. By 2014,
that had increased to 131 pounds of added sugar
per person!1
The majority of the added sugars in today’s
food supply end up in beverages like soft
drinks, sports drinks, lemonade, sweetened
iced tea, and fruit drinks - and middle school
students are major consumers of those types
of beverages. Added sugars may add flavor, but
they also add calories without any nutrients and
can make it hard to maintain a healthy weight, a
healthy body, and healthy teeth.

According to the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans,
added sugars are recommended to make up
no more than 10 percent of calories per day.
The average middle school student needs 2100
calories per day which means no more than 210
calories are recommended from added sugar.
210 might not seem like a lot, but it can add
up quickly. The average middle school student
consumes 17 percent of their daily calories in
the form of added sugars.2 That’s about 360
calories, or 90 grams of added sugars. That’s
over 22 teaspoons of sugar a day!

ADDED SUGARS IN THE FOOD
SUPPLY (PER PERSON)

ILLUSTRATION IN PROGRESS

1909:
84 POUNDS

2014:
131 POUNDS

1. United States Department of Agriculture. Economic Research Service. “Sugars and sweeteners (added).” Food Availability (Per Capita) Data System. August 2016.
.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. .

1

7TH GRADE | INFORMATIONAL TEXT ARTICLE 

Added Sugars Are
Not So Sweet
Eating patterns that are lower in added sugars
can help decrease the risk of tooth decay, heart
disease, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancers,
and obesity. Consuming too many foods and
beverages that are high in calories from added
sugars makes it difficult to achieve a healthy
calorie balance and can contribute to obesity. As
you can see from the figure above, burning off
extra calories from added sugar can be very time
consuming! Because every food and beverage
choice matters over time, it’s important to start
adopting healthier habits now.

Where Do You Consume Most
of Your Added Sugars?

As a middle school student, you may not realize
that you are one of the food industry’s prime
customers for marketing sugary foods. Did you
know that…

The food industry spent...

$1 BILLION
marketing foods and drinks to teens ages 12-17.

Marketers spent...

$382

MILLION

SNACKS & SWEETS
31%
SOFT DRINKS
25%

MIXED DISHES
11%

Marketing Sugary Foods to Middle
Schoolers

marketing soft drinks to teens ages 12 - 17. And the
vast majority of those beverages contain added sugar.

The food industry even spent over...

$80
MILLION

SOURCES OF
ADDED SUGARS IN
THE U.S.3

marketing soft drinks to kids in school. 4

(all people ages
2 and up)

DAIRY
11%
GRAINS
11%

Marketing is everywhere!

FRUIT DRINKS
11%
OTHER
30%

SPORTS AND
ENERGY DRINKS
3%

3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of
Agriculture. 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. .
4. UA Review of Food Marketing to Children and Adolescents. Federal Trade
Commission. December 2012. .

NEW

TR
YN

OW

The food industry is marketing many sugary foods
and beverages to middle school students through
television, radio, and print advertising, websites,
apps, social media, product packaging, in-store
marketing, movies, video games, and through
celebrity and athlete endorsements.
2

7TH GRADE | INFORMATIONAL TEXT ARTICLE 

The New Nutrition Facts Label and You
Good news! The new Nutrition Facts label will provide more
information about added sugars to help you take control and make
healthier decisions.
In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized a new
Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods that makes it easier for
you to make informed food choices that support a healthy diet. The
updated label is expected to begin appearing on many food packages
by 2018 and it has a new design and to help consumers make more
informed food choices.
OLD LABEL
NEW LABEL
2 servings per container
Serving size 1 1/2 cup (208g)
Amount per serving

Calories

240
% Daily Value*

Total Fat 4g
Saturated Fat 1.5g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 5mg
Sodium 430mg
Total Carbohydrate 46g
Dietary Fiber 7g
Total Sugars 4g
Includes 2g Added Sugars

5%
8%
2%
19%
17%
25%
4%

Protein 11g
Vitamin D 2mcg
Calcium 260mg
Iron 6mg
Potassium 240mg

10%
20%
35%
6%

The new Nutrition
Facts label makes
it easier to see how
many added sugars
your beverages and
foods have.

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in
a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories
a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Choosing Better Beverages
Like the old Nutrition Facts label, the new Nutrition Facts label
lists the ingredients used to make the food or beverage. Read the
ingredient listing to find out which foods and beverages have added
sugars.
Unlike the old label, the new label will include a new “percent daily
value” for added sugars. You can use this number to decide whether
or not the added sugar content exceeds the daily recommended limit
(10%) or not. You can use this information to choose foods with
little (or no) added sugars based on the Daily Value information that
will be on the label. This new information is especially important
in today’s world because serving sizes are bigger than they were 20
years ago. Take a look at the graphic to the right to get an idea about
how serving sizes of sugary beverages have grown over time.

Added Sugars in
the Ingredients List
You many not be aware that
you are consuming added
sugars. There are many
different types of sugars with
many different names. When
you look for added sugars in
foods and beverages, see if
the ingredient list contains
any of the following kinds of
sugar:

•
•
•

anhydrous dextrose

•
•
•
•
•

corn syrup

•
•
•
•
•
•

honey

•

sucrose

brown sugar
confectioner’s or
powdered sugar
corn syrup solids
dextrose
fructose
high-fructose corn syrup
(HFCS)
lactose
maltose
maple syrup
molasses
nectars (e.e. peach nectar,
pear nectar)

INCREASING
BEVERAGE SIZES5

20 oz
6.5 oz

1950'S

1990'S

5. "Sugary Drinks and Obesity Fact Sheet." The Nutrition Source. Harvard School of Public Health, 26 May 2015.File Typeapplication/pdfFile Modified2017-02-13File Created2017-01-13