Pre-reading questions:
- What is your favorite snack? Why do you like it?
- What do you think makes some foods hard to stop eating?
Vocabulary:
- ultraprocessed /UHL-truh PRAH-sest/
- fat /fat/
- sweetened /SWEE-tnd/
- carbohydrate /kahr-boh-HAHY-dreyt/
- timeframe /TAHYM-freym/
[adjective] – (of food) that has been heavily changed from its original form using industrial methods and additives
Ultraprocessed snacks like packaged cakes and cookies are often cheaper than fresh foods.
[noun] – a natural oily or greasy substance found in animal bodies and some plant products, often used for energy or cooking
This cooking oil has less fat than butter, so it’s often used in low-calorie meals.
[adjective] – made sweeter by adding sugar or another sweetener
Many sweetened drinks at the store have more sugar than people expect.
[noun] – one of several substances, such as sugar or starch, that provide the body with energy, or foods containing these substances such as bread, potatoes, pasta, and rice
Runners often eat meals rich in carbohydrates before a big race.
[noun] – a period of time in which something happens or is planned to happen
The project was completed within a shorter timeframe than expected.
Article reading:
The results showed that people who ate ultraprocessed meals consumed about 1,000 more calories daily than those who ate less processed meals. This led to clear weight gain. Experts believe that the mix of fat, sugar, salt, and carbohydrates in these foods makes them more tempting and easier to overeat. Some scientists felt the study was too short, but others said future studies with more people and longer timeframes would help. Still, early results show that changing how ultraprocessed foods are made might help people eat fewer calories, even if those foods stay in their diets.
Comprehension questions
- Who did the study about ultraprocessed foods?
- What do ultraprocessed foods often contain a lot of?
- How long did the participants stay in the controlled space?
- What happened to people who ate more calories from ultraprocessed food?
- What might help people eat fewer calories in the future?
Discussion questions
- Have you ever eaten a lot of snacks or fast food in one day? If so, how did you feel afterward? If not, what kinds of food do you usually eat during the day?
- Have you ever tried to eat only healthy or homemade food for a week? If so, was it easy or difficult for you? Why? If not, would you like to try it? Why or why not?
- Do you agree that eating too many ultraprocessed foods can lead to health problems?
- Why do you think people eat ultraprocessed foods even if they are not healthy?
- Do you think it’s possible to eat a healthy diet while still eating some ultraprocessed foods? Why or why not?