Biology Snack food Survivor

Snack Food Survivor

In an attempt to make more money, the producers of Survivor decided to allow the sponsors to feature their products on the actual show in the form of packaged snack foods. This way the show also functions as one seamless commercial.

Your challenge:

Each team will be isolated for 30 days on a small island which has a fresh water spring, but no edible plants or animals (eating insects would be cheating). Each team member has with them one packaged snack item. Before you are shipped out to your island you can request to have a set amount of any combination of the team members’ snacks stocked on a hut on the island. Teams cannot exceed a total of 200,000 calories of stocked snacks for a 3 person team, or 250,000 calories for a 4 person team.

The winning team will be the one with the most balanced diet (little nutrient deficiencies).

Use information from the following resources to plan an effective strategy:

J The nutrition label on your snacks. This gives you amounts of the MACRO-nutrients (Carbohydrates, Fat, Protein)

J The following web sites to get specific information on MICRO-nutrients (vitamins and minerals)

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

http://www.nutritiondata.com/

J Chapter 6.3 and Chapter 35.2 (p.924-928) to understand how the body uses Macro and Micronutrients.

J The summary of nutrient imbalances (attached)

Common effects of Nutrient imbalances

Low complex carbohydrate – energy, metabolism imbalance

Lack of fiber – water loss, intestinal disease

High saturated fat – liver damage, high blood pressure

Low protein – poor muscle function, growth, and repair

Vitamins

· Lack of Vitamin A: Night blindness, dry eyes

· Lack of Vitamin B1: swelling of tissue, heart failure

· Lack of Vitamin B2: Problems with lips, tongue, skin,

· Lack of Vitamin B3: diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, and death.

· Lack of Vitamin B12: Pernicious anemia (poor muscle formation)

· Lack of Vitamin C: Scurvy: liver spots, bleeding from throat and nose

· Lack of Vitamin D: Rickets: bone deformity

· Lack of Vitamin E: Malabsorption of fats, anemia

· Lack of Vitamin K: Poor blood clotting, internal bleeding

Mineral imbalance can effect the following

· Calcium - used by teeth, bones, nerves

· Chlorine – digestive juices

· Copper – new blood cells, lung function, liver function

· Fluorine - strengthens teeth

· Iodine – Hormone formation

· Iron - transports oxygen in red blood cells

· Magnesium – muscle and nerve activity

· Phosphorus – energy transfer in every cell

· Potassium - important ion in nerve and muscle cells

· Sodium - important ion in nerve and muscle cells

· Zinc – immune system function
Team Provision Request

Team Names:

List the type of snacks your team brought to the table:

Planning Checklist (how many of each type of snack should we request?)

1) Can you provide at least 2000 calories a day to each team member, with no more than 10% of those calories from Saturated Fats? (if the answer is no explain why)

2) What is the ratio of complex carbohydrates to simple carbohydrates in your team's diet? (60%complex / 40% simple is healthy)

3) What important minerals are included?

4) What important minerals are missing, and how might this affect you after 30 days?

5) What important vitamins are included?

6) What important vitamins are missing, and how might this affect you after 30 days?

7) List the quantity of each type of snack you would have the SURVIVOR producers stock on your team’s island. Make sure you don’t exceed the maximum Calories.

8) If you could have 8 servings of one fruit or vegetable air dropped on the island every day, which fruit or vegetable would you choose (use the web sites or your text to help choose)?

9) What vitamin and mineral requirements do you hope to satisfy?

10) How will those specific vitamins or minerals help you?