Q1.
Read the nutritional information given below for a packet of potato wafers and a packet of roasted chana shown here. Based on the nutritional information on the food packets given above, which food would you choose? Why?
Answer
I would choose the roasted chana. Compare the two labels line by line — both are printed for the same quantity, 100 g, so the numbers can be compared directly.
| Per 100 g | Potato wafers | Roasted chana | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | 536 kcal | 355 kcal | Wafers give about 181 kcal more, mostly from fat |
| Fats | 35.0 g | 6.26 g | Wafers have more than five times the fat |
| Carbohydrates | 53.0 g | 58.58 g | Nearly the same |
| Proteins | 7.0 g | 18.64 g | Chana has about 2.7 times the protein |
| Dietary fibre | 4.8 g | 16.8 g | Chana has about 3.5 times the fibre |
Reasons for choosing roasted chana:
- It gives much more protein (18.64 g against 7.0 g) — the body-building nutrient a growing child needs.
- It gives much more dietary fibre (16.8 g against 4.8 g), which keeps digestion smooth.
- It has far less fat (6.26 g against 35.0 g) and fewer calories, so it does not lead to obesity.
- Chana also supplies iron and other minerals, and it is cheaper.
How to read any food label: first check that both labels are for the same weight. Then look for high protein and fibre and low fat and sugar. High energy with low protein and low fibre is the signature of junk food.