Awareness and practical understanding of nutrition and using nutrition facts labels is lacking in many undergraduate student populations and is an essential skill to make healthy, informed nutritional choices. We designed a laboratory activity that promotes hands-on quantification of macromolecule composition in selected food sources through evaluation of nutrition facts labels, followed by exploration of these differences using indicator tests to solve an ???unknown??? solutions puzzle. Students must quantify protein, fat, starch, and sugars from ingredient information and nutrition facts labels to identify six unknown beverages (whole milk, oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, nondairy creamer, and a protein powder ???shake???). By using indicator tests (Biuret, Lugol???s, Sudan red, and Benedict???s) and differences in macromolecule composition, the puzzle can be solved. While we perform this inexpensive laboratory activity in our anatomy and physiology course, it may also serve well in introductory biology or nutrition courses in any undergraduate institution.
Keywords: nutrition, milk, indicator solutions, problem solving, laboratory skills
University of Manitoba (2025)
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