CHAPTER17

Shopping for Food

Explore the Photo

You can use shopping skills to
make smart decisions about
flavor, nutrition, price, quality,
safety, and convenience. What
affects your decisions when you
shop for food?
Explore the Photo Answers
may include price, personal
preferences for certain foods,
store displays, and money and
time available.

Writing Activity
“How-to” Paper
Business Communication Cooking for
yourself requires preparation. Write a “How-to”
paper that describes how to prepare for a shop-
ping trip. Be detailed in your instructions and
use clear, concise sentences.
Writing Tips
1. List all the steps in order.
2. Name all the materials you will need.
3. Include an introduction and a conclusion.
4. Use transition words and phrases.

234 Unit 6 Smart Food Choices

Photo Edit/David Young-Wolff
 Reading Guide

Before You Read

Prepare with a Partner Before you read, work with a partner. Read the
headings and write down questions you both have about the chapter.

Read to Learn Academic Vocabulary

Key Concepts You will find these words in your reading and on
• Outline the components of a food shopping your tests. Use the glossary to look up their defi-
plan. nitions if necessary.
• Identify how to use food labels for smart economic
shopping decisions. estimate
• Summarize how to shop for value, quality,
and food safety. Graphic Organizer
• List six ways to be a courteous customer As you read, use a graphic organizer like the
when you shop. one below to list the six items that must be on a
Nutrition Facts label.
Main Idea
Smart food shopping is important for wellness.
Wise consumers choose foods for nutrition, quality,
value, food safety, and their menu plan.

Content Vocabulary Nutrition Facts

food budget comparison
impulse buying shopping
staples unit price
Nutrition Facts store brand
Daily Values generic brand
nutrient content national brand Graphic Organizer Go to this book’s
claim open dating Online Learning Center at glencoe.com
health claim to print out this graphic organizer.

Academic Standards ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Mathematics English Language Arts

NCTM Number and Operations Compute fluently NCTE 4 Use written language to communicate effectively.
and make reasonable estimates. Social Studies
NCTM Data Analysis and Probability Formulate NCSS IX D Global Connections Analyze the causes,
questions that can be addressed with data and collect, consequences, and possible solutions to persistent,
organize, and display relevant data to answer them. contemporary, and emerging global issues.
NCTE National Council of Teachers of English NSES National Science Education Standards
NCTM National Council of Teachers of Mathematics NCSS National Council for the Social Studies

glencoe.com Chapter 17 Shopping for Food 235

 Plan to Shop
A successful shopping plan starts by making decisions at
home. How much can you spend? Where and when will you
shop? Planning saves money, time, and effort.

Vocabulary Your Food Budget

You can find definitions in Most families have a food budget. A food budget is an
the glossary at the back of amount of money the family plans to spend on food. That may
this book. include food eaten at home and away from home. Plan menus
within your budget, then make wise shopping decisions. You
can plan appealing, nourishing menus on almost any budget.
Food prices depend on many economic, or cost-related, fac-
tors, such as processing, packaging, and transportation. Brand,
As You Read
product form and variety, packaging, and store type also affect
Connect Think about
price. Partly prepared or ready-to-eat foods may cost more.
how you make decisions
when you go shopping. Fresh fruit and vegetables can cost more when they are out
of season or when weather conditions result in smaller crop
yields.
As You Read Answer Check for food specials in newspapers and store flyers. Look
Responses may mention for coupons, and plan menus around specially priced foods.
impulse buying, using a list,
or other strategies.
Your Shopping List
A shopping list is an important food budget management
tool. A shopping list can help you:
◆ Shop faster and save money.
◆ Prevent impulse buying. Impulse buying is buying some-
thing you do not need just because it appeals to you.
◆ Avoid repeat trips to the store to buy items you forgot.
◆ Buy exactly what you need. Check your menu and list foods
by amount and form. For example, do you need sliced or
crushed canned pineapple?
◆ Ensure that you have enough staples. Staples are basic
food items you keep on hand, such as rice
or flour.
Photo Caption Answer By
◆ Organize your shopping. You can
checking ahead, you buy
only what you need in the
group items according to store
amount you need. That layout to save time.
way, you will not forget
something or buy too much
or too little of anything.
Check Ahead Before You Shop A shopping list will help you save
money and time. You will buy what you need for the menus you plan
to prepare. Why is it important to check what foods you have on hand
before going to the store?

236 Unit 6 Smart Food Choices

Rob Melnychuk/Corbis/Jupiter Images
Where to Shop
You have many choices when shopping for food. When decid-
ing where to shop, consider location, prices, store hours, and the Nutrition &
types of food sold. Choose clean stores that sell good-quality
Wellness Tips
food, offer a good selection, and have helpful workers. Here are Read Between the
Lines
some examples of different types of places to shop for food:
◆ Supermarkets Supermarkets sell thousands of foods. ✓ Read the Nutrition
Facts on food labels
They offer specials, food sampling, and coupons. Many
to check the number
also provide pharmacy, florist, or bank services.
of calories in foods
◆ Specialty Stores These stores carry certain types of promoted as fat-free.
foods. Fish markets, butchers, bakeries, and ethnic food
stores are specialty stores.
◆ Convenience Stores These small stores have a very lim-
ited selection of foods. Many sell lots of packaged snack
foods. The price of food at convenience stores is usually
much higher than at other types of food stores.
◆ Food Cooperatives Co-ops buy food in large quantities
and sell to members at lower prices. Variety may be limited.
◆ Farmers’ Markets These markets often sell locally grown
and produced foods. Most are open for limited times dur-
ing growing and harvest seasons. In some areas, farmers’
markets are open year-round.
◆ Warehouse or Discount Stores These are similar to
supermarkets, but food is often sold in larger quantities
and at lower prices.
◆ Online Stores Some stores sell groceries online, includ-
ing specialty and regional foods. Buying food from online
stores can be very expensive because you are paying a
higher fee for the convenience of having the food selected
and delivered to you.

When to Shop
How often you buy food depends on your schedule, your stor-
age space, and your personal preferences. Some people prefer to
buy their food fresh every day. This requires more time. Other Reading Check Answer
You can buy food at many
people prefer to shop just once a week. This saves time. You can
places, including super-
also shop when the store is not crowded to save time. markets, specialty stores,
Shop when you are not hungry. Hungry shoppers often buy convenience stores, food
more food than they need. A hungry shopper is much more cooperatives, farmers’
likely to make impulse buys of snack foods, too. markets, warehouse or
discount stores, and
Recall Where can you buy food? online stores.

Chapter 17 Shopping for Food 237

 Read Food Labels
By law, food labels must provide the food’s name and its
description, amount, ingredients, Nutrition Facts, manufac-
turer or distributor, and allergen labeling if allergens are
present. (See Figure 17.1.) The U.S. Food and Drug Admin-
istration regulates food labels, except for those on meat and
poultry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates meat
and poultry labels.
Food Labels list important information that will help you
analyze the foods you may eat or drink. Use them to make
decisions toward the most healthful choices for your nutri-
tional needs.

Figure 17.1 Food Labels

Food Label Information Food labels provide valuable information to help you make wise food choices.
How might you use food labels to choose canned chicken broth with less sodium?

DESCRIPTION The description tells about the food and how it is prepared.

AMOUNT This lists the quantity of the food by volume or by net weight without
the weight of the container.

NUTRITION AND HEALTH Information about the calories and nutrients is on the Nutrition Facts
INFORMATION part of the label. This also may include health claims.

FOOD EXCHANGES This information helps people with diabetes make food choices. It is
based on Exchange Lists for Meal Planning from the American Diabetes
Association and the American Dietetic Association.
INGREDIENTS All ingredients, including additives, are listed by weight, from most to
least.

ALLERGEN LABELING The common allergens peanuts, eggs, wheat, tree nuts, soybeans,
shellfish, fish, and milk are listed.

DIRECTIONS This tells how to store or prepare the food. Sometimes there is a recipe.

MANUFACTURER/ The name, address, and Web site of the company that makes or
DISTRIBUTOR distributes the product appears on the label.

UNIVERSAL PRODUCT The UPC identifies the item with a bar code. At checkout, a scanner
CODE (UPC) reads the item and price. The UPC also helps track inventory.

FRESHNESS DATE Some foods, especially perishable foods, are dated.

Figure Caption Answer You can read the label to check the nutrient content for broth. You can read the label
to see if it says less sodium, no-salt-added, or no salt. You can check the Nutrition Facts to find the amount of
sodium per serving.

238 Unit 6 Smart Food Choices

Check for Nutrition Information
Use food labels to find answers to these questions and
choose foods that provide the calories and nutrients you need.
The following is some of the information you may find on food
packaging.
◆ Nutrition Facts provide specific information about the
nutrition in one serving of the food. Use this information
to compare the calories and nutrients in different foods.
(See Figure 17.2.) Nutrition Facts are based on Daily
Values, the recommended amounts in an eating plan.
The Daily Values helps you judge how much of a nutrient
each serving provides.
◆ A nutrient content claim states that a food has more or
less of a nutrient or food substance: for example, that the
food is low-fat. Foods must meet government criteria to
carry these claims. (See Figure 17.3 on page 241.)
◆ A health claim states that a food provides health ben-
efits, for example, “lowers the risk of cancer.” Claims must
be based on scientific evidence.
◆ A structure or function claim states that a nutrient or
Figure Caption Answer
food substance provides a benefit in the body, for exam- Eating two servings means
ple, “helps maintain bone health.” These claims are also you ate twice the amount of
regulated. everything.

Figure 17.2 Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Lists Nutrition Facts on labels can help you choose foods for the nutrients and calories they
provide. What if you ate two servings?

SERVING SIZE AND NUMBER A

CALORIES The total calories and serving size is a specific amount. The
calories from fat in one serving. Nutrition Facts are for one serving.

NUTRIENTS The metric amounts % DAILY VALUE The percentage

of fats, cholesterol, sodium, car- that one serving provides of the
bohydrate, fiber, and protein in Daily Value for some nutrients. The
one label serving. Sometimes % Daily Value also helps you judge
other nutrients are included. how much of a nutrient a serving
provides. In the 5-20 guide, 5 per-
cent or more is low; 20 percent or
more is high.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS The
% Daily Value of the vitamins and
minerals. PERCENT DAILY VALUES
EXPLANATION This shows a total
for a 2,000-calorie-a-day eating
plan.

Chapter 17 Shopping for Food 239

 Other Label Information
Food labels provide other information to help you shop
wisely and make informed decisions about your food choices.
Grocery Store You may see these words on food packaging:
Worker ◆ Organic A food may be produced to be 100 percent organic,
Grocery store work- or it may be considered organic with 95 percent organic
ers stock shelves ingredients. These terms are regulated by the U.S. Depart-
and help customers. ment of Agriculture. Look for the USDA Organic seal.
Other jobs in grocery ◆ Natural This means that the food is not processed very
stores include butch- much. The label must also explain why it is natural—for
ers, bakers, checkout
example, if it has no artificial ingredients.
clerks, and produce
and dairy managers. ◆ Fresh This term can be used only on raw food that has
Careers Find out not been frozen, heated, or treated with preservatives.
more about careers.
Go to this book’s Identify By law, what information must
Online Learning appear on a food label?
Center at
glencoe.com.
Shop for Value, Quality, and
Food Safety
Reading Check Answer At the food store, you can put your shopping skills to work.
Name of food and Use your shopping list, and compare prices, amounts, and nutri-
description, amount, tion information.
ingredient list, Nutrition
Facts, manufacturer or
distributor information, and Compare Food Prices
allergen labeling. You have many ways to save money on food. One of the best
ways is to use comparison shopping. Comparison shopping
is comparing prices of different forms, container sizes, and
brands in order to get the best value for your dollar.
You can use the unit price to compare costs for similar foods
and different-size packages. The unit price on the shelf tag
tells how much an ounce, pound, or other unit of the item costs.
If the shelf tag has no unit price, estimate, or use your knowl-
edge to guess, what the unit price would be. Divide the price of
the item by the number of units.
To save money, you can use coupons and look for store specials.
You can also buy store brands or generic brands. A store brand is
used for a supermarket’s own product. Store brands often cost less
than national brands. A generic brand is a brand that usually has
a plain label and no brand name. Generic brands usually cost the
least. A national brand is a brand sold by major food companies.
National brands are usually more expensive because they include
the cost of promotions and advertising. Finally, you can sign up for
frequent-customer cards. Some stores give customers with these
cards special savings.

240 Unit 6 Smart Food Choices glencoe.com

Buy the Right Amount
A larger container often costs less per unit, but not always.
Check the unit price of each item. Buy a large size only if you
can store it properly and use it all before it spoils. If not, you
will waste food and money.
Buy only what you need of perishable foods, which may spoil
quickly. Fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, chicken, fish, eggs,
and milk are perishable.
If packages of meat or produce contain more than you want,
ask a butcher or store clerk to package a smaller amount.

Figure 17.3 Nutrient Content Claims

Label Language Certain label terms are defined by the government. They can be used on the label only
if the product meets the requirements. How can nutrient content claims on labels help you?

Nutrient
What the Claims Mean Other Terms
Content Claims
no, zero,
An amount so small it probably has no effect. For example:
Free without,
Fat-free means less than 0.5 gram of fat per label serving.
insignificant
An amount defined as low for each nutrient or substance, few, little,
Low or for calories. For example: Low-fat means 3 grams of fat contains a small
(or less) per label serving. amount of
An amount describing a food with at least 25 percent less
fewer, lower,
Reduced calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sugars, or sodium than
less
a regular food.
An amount that is 20 percent or more of the Daily Value for rich in,
High a nutrient. For example: High in calcium means at least 200 excellent
milligrams of calcium per label serving. source of
An amount that is 10 to 19 percent or more of the Daily
contains,
Good source Value for a nutrient. For example: Good source of calcium
provides
means 100 to 190 milligrams of calcium per label serving.
An amount that is 10 percent or more of the Daily Value enriched,
More for a nutrient. For example: More iron means at least 1.8 fortified, added,
milligrams of iron per label serving. extra, plus
Less than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams or less of saturated
Lean fat, and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 3-ounce Less fat
cooked serving.
One-third fewer calories or 50 percent less fat than the
traditional version. Or, 50 percent less sodium than the
Light traditional food. Sometimes, light also describes the food Lite
itself, such as light brown sugar. In these instances, it is not
a nutrient content claim.

Figure Caption Answer Nutrient content claims can give you a general idea about the nutrients or calories in a
product. You need to check the Nutrition Facts for specific amounts in one label serving.

Chapter 17 Shopping for Food 241

 Choose the Right Form of Food
Many foods are sold fresh, frozen, or canned. Canned, fro-
zen, and cooked fresh vegetables and fruits have about the same
nutrient content. You can decide which is best for you by com-
parison shopping. Store them properly to keep their nutrients.
All forms of fruits and vegetables—fresh, frozen, and canned—
provide important nutrients in a nutritious meal plan. The price
of fresh fruits and vegetables may be lower or higher at differ-
ent times of the year. Fresh fruits and vegetables are often more
flavorful when they are in season—but they cannot be stored for
long. Canned and frozen products are convenient. Canned foods
are cooked already. They can be stored the longest.
Foods are also sold in different forms: for example, whole,
sliced, or chopped. Read the description on the label. Choose
the right form for the food you will prepare.
Sometimes you may choose to pay an additional amount as a
trade-off for convenience. A frozen dinner probably costs more
than the same homemade meal—unless you need to buy more
ingredients than you will use in that meal.

Shop for Food Safety and Quality

Food bought at its peak contains the most nutrients. Follow
these guidelines to shop with food safety and quality in mind:
◆ Look for undamaged containers. Give bulging, rusted, or
dented cans or broken containers to a clerk. Check safety
seals and buttons.
◆ Handle fresh fruits and vegetables gently. Bruised fruits
and vegetables spoil faster.

Photo Caption Answer

The 100% orange juice is all
juice; the other is not. The
ingredient list shows other
ingredients, including water
and added sugars in the
orange soda.

Which Would You Buy? Drinks with an orange flavor

are not always juice. A product that is all juice will say
100% juice on the label. Which of these beverages is all
juice? What can you learn from the ingredient list?

242 Unit 6 Smart Food Choices

 ◆ Fill your cart and grocery bags carefully
so fruits, vegetables, and other soft foods
are not bruised or crushed.
◆ Buy refrigerated and frozen foods last or Mental Math
they may get warm. Ian has a coupon that will allow him to
take 20% off the cost for a deli salad. He
◆ Be sure all refrigerated items feel cold. estimates that the salad will cost $5.69
before the discount. Use rounding and
◆ Be sure frozen food packages are frozen percentages to estimate what his bill will
solid. Ice crystals or discoloration may be with the extra 20% off.
mean that the package has thawed and Math Concept Estimate by Rounding
been refrozen. When rounding numbers, look at the digit
◆ Put raw meat, poultry, and fish in plastic to the right of the place to which you are
rounding. If it is 5 or greater, round up; if
bags. This will prevent their juices from
it is 4 or less, round down.
leaking onto other foods.
Starting Hint Round up Ian’s total bill
to the nearest tenth, then move the deci-
Open Dating mal one place to the right to find 10% off.
Some foods have dates stamped on the pack- Double this to find 20% off, then subtract
age. Open dating means the packages are it from Ian’s current total.
marked with dates that help consumers know NCTM Number and Operations Compute
about how long the product will be fresh. For fluently and make reasonable estimates.
example, the package may read “Sell by May 31”
or “Best if used by June 8.” A sell-by date means For more math help, go to
the Math Appendix
you can buy food by this date and still store it
for a reasonable time. A best-if-used-by date tells
when food is at its peak quality. Some foods, like
bakery items, have packing dates. These dates Math in Action Answer
relate to peak quality when foods were packed, not food safety. Rounding to the nearest
tenth is $5.70. Ten percent
After You Shop of $5.70 is $0.57;
The way food is handled and stored affects quality and safety. $0.57 ⫻ 2 ⫽ $1.14.
Subtract this from the
Take food home and store it right away. Milk, meat, and other
original amount
perishable foods, as well as hot and cold take-out foods, need ($5.69 ⫺ $1.14 ⫽ $4.55).
to be refrigerated. Frozen food must be kept frozen. Follow the
safety information found on all of your packages.
Reading Check Answer
List What are three ways you could save
Answers may include: Using
money at the supermarket?
unit prices to compare
brands and sizes; using

Customer Courtesy coupons; shopping specials;

buying store or generic
Courtesy from customers makes shopping more pleasant for brands if they are cheaper
everyone. Follow these guidelines to be courteous while shopping: than national brands; using
◆ As You Shop Return food you do not want to its proper a frequent-customer card.
place. Politely ask a clerk if you need help. Be patient
when you wait your turn at the service counters. If you
break something, get a clerk for clean-up. Do not block
traffic by leaving your cart in the middle of the aisle.

Chapter 17 Shopping for Food 243

 ◆ At the Checkout Counter Take your cart out of line if
you have forgotten something so that you will not keep
others waiting. Use the express checkout lane only if you
have the number of items allowed. If you scan products
yourself, follow directions. Have your coupons and pay-
ment ready.
◆ In the Parking Lot Take your shopping cart to the cart
return so it will not damage cars or get in the way of traf-
fic. Park in a handicapped space only if you are qualified
Reading Check Answer If to do so.
you need to leave the You can also make food shopping smoother and more fun
checkout line because you
by sharing the responsibility with friends and family members.
forgot something, take
your cart with you. Use the
Break your list into two or more parts, and each tackle one.
express checkout lane only You can help others by picking up groceries for an elderly or ill
if you have the appropriate neighbor or a busy friend.
number of items. Have
your payment and coupons Recall What are three ways you can be
ready. courteous at the checkout counter?

EASY RECIPES
Everyday Favorites
Fruit Salad
Customary Ingredients Metric Try This!
1 cup Green grapes, halved 250 mL Substitute
2 tsp. Lemon juice 10 mL other fresh and
2 each Apples, cored, sliced 2 each canned fruits.
½ cup Dried cranberries or raisins ½ cup
1 can (6 oz) Mandarin oranges, drained 1 can (185 mL)
1 Banana 1 each

Yield: 8 servings, ½ cup (125 g) each

1 Put apples in a medium bowl and mix with the lemon juice.
2 Carefully slice the grapes into halves and add to the bowl.
3 Add the grapes, mandarin oranges, and cranberries or raisins to
the bowl.
4 Peel and slice the banana and add to the other fruit. Mix gently.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: 78 calories, 0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg choles-
terol, 1 mg sodium, 20 g total carbohydrate (2 g fiber, 16 g total sugars), 1 g protein
Percent Daily Value: vitamin A 4%, vitamin C 20%, calcium 0%, iron 2%

244 Unit 6 Smart Food Choices

 CHAPTER 17 Review and Applications

After You Read

CHAPTER SUMMARY
A shopping plan can help you save money, time, and effort. You
may buy food in many places. Food labels provide information to
compare foods. Use comparison shopping, unit pricing, open dat-
ing, coupons, and food specials to get more for your money. Buy the
amount and form of food you will use. Remember food quality and
safety. Be courteous as you shop.

Vocabulary Review
1. Use each of these vocabulary words in a sentence.
Content Vocabulary Academic Vocabulary
food budget (p. 236) comparison economic (p. 236)
impulse buying shopping (p. 240) estimate (p. 240)
(p. 236) unit price (p. 240)
staples (p. 236) store brand (p. 240)
Nutrition Facts generic brand
(p. 239) (p. 240)
Daily Values (p. 239) national brand
nutrient content (p. 240)
claim (p. 239) open dating (p. 243)
health claim (p. 239)

Review Key Concepts

2. Outline the components of a food shopping plan.
3. Identify how to use food labels for smart shopping decisions.
4. Summarize how to shop for value, quality, and food safety.
5. List six ways to be a courteous customer when you shop.

Critical Thinking
6. Analyze the unit prices of two food items your family buys regularly. Conduct
research to determine if your family is getting the best value.
7. Compare and contrast the label information on two different kinds of cereal.
8. Create a shopping plan for a family dinner menu. List smart shopping strategies.
9. Compare and contrast the time and resources involved in going on one major food
shopping trip weekly, compared with several smaller ones.

Chapter 17 Shopping for Food 245

CHAPTER 17 Review and Applications

Real-World Skills and Applications

Decision Making Technology
10. Food Budgets Explain the factors 12. Electronic Shopping List Use spread-
that help a family decide how much sheet software to create a checklist of
money to spend on food. Why might foods for your family’s shopping list.
one family need to spend a larger per- Include staples and items your family
centage of its income on food than buys often. Categorize items by their
another family? Write your answer in store location where you usually shop.
two or more paragraphs. Give specific Use the list while shopping. Report any
examples. changes you would make and why.

Collaborative and Interpersonal Financial Literacy

11. Label Information As a class, gather a 13. Unit Pricing When you go shopping
variety of food labels. Include labels for at the supermarket, you find that dry
all food groups and for several mixed pasta costs $1.10 for a 12-ounce bag.
foods. Using the Nutrition Facts, arrange Another bag of pasta costs $1.20 for a
the products from most to least per label 16-ounce bag. Calculate the unit price,
serving for calories and then for different or price per ounce. Which is the best
nutrients. Draw conclusions, and create a value? Show the calculations in your
summary of your findings. answer.

14. Price Comparison Compare the prices of the same

food sold in several ways: national brand vs. store
brand; economy size vs. regular size; supermarket
vs. discount or warehouse store; canned vs. frozen.
For each comparison, describe the pros and cons.
15. Supermarket Tour Tour a nearby supermarket.
Find an unfamiliar food product. Use the pack-
age label, unit pricing, and other store resources,
including store workers, to write a brief description
of each product. Explain which of these foods you
might buy and why.
16. Compare Bread Conduct a taste test of four kinds of bread, with three
having at least one whole-grain ingredient. Write a summary of the taste
test that rates the breads for flavor, texture, appeal, and price. Analyze
the label information. How do the breads compare nutritionally? Which
would you buy, and why?

Additional Activities For additional activities go to this book’s Online

Learning Center at glencoe.com.

246 Unit 6 Smart Food Choices glencoe.com