Smart Mouth!

Smart Mouth is a website that makes students aware of the types of foods that they are eating. On this website, students can select many different types of food (Fast Food, desserts, snacks, etc.). When students select these foods, the website calculates how many grams of fat and how many calories are in that food choice. Students can enter in a particular meal that they usually eat at McDonald's and see exactly what they are putting in their mouths.

Curriculum Connections:
Grade: Seven
Subject: Health
Unit: Healthy Eating

How Would I Use This Website?
I would have students explore this website individually. Prior to using the website, I would have each student write down their three favorite meals from different Fast Food restaurants, making sure to include EVERYTHING that they would actually order (drink, meal, dessert?). Students would then use the website to see just what they are putting in their mouths when they order these meals. Students will record the number of calories and the amount of fat in each of their meal choices. After finding out the nutritional value in their meal choices, students would then have to think a way that they could make better food choices for each of the meals listed above. This does not necessarily mean that, if their favorite restaurant is McDonalds, then they cannot eat at McDonalds. Instead, students must look for healthier choices on the menu. Following this activity, students will discuss the idea of "eating out" and "fast food". Is it healthy to eat fast food often? Do we make wiser food choices when we eat at home?

Following this activity, students would look at Canada's Food Guide and create a 3-day meal plan in which they made healthy food choices and ate the recommended servings from each food group. Students would then try to complete their meal plan over the course of 3 days.

Benefits for Students:
Most students will have eaten at Fast Food restaurants before, probably regularly. It is beneficial for students to realize that these are often quite unhealthy food choices, and that there are ways to make better choices to stay healthy. This website is relateable for students because most will have eaten many of the foods listed. As well, I think students would be quite engaged in an activity like this, because it is bringing student interests into the classroom. Overall, I think this website offers a lot of valuable information and other teaching tools.

Supplementary Website:
I also found the website "Drive Through Diet" which again provided data relating to Fast Food. This website could be used in a way similar to that described above.