______________________________________
Last Name, First Name (partner optional)
9:30
11:30
Circle your class time
Supermarket Savvy Assignment
15 points Typed Due Thurs. Apr. 21
Print back to back if possible
Visit your local super-market not a superstore (e.g. Wal-Mart,Target, Costco) nor a
quick convenience store (e.g. 7-11). You may do this assignment with a partner. If so, list
both names on the summary sheet. Carefully complete this hand-our with clear, brief answers.
Part I
Name of Market visited________________
Part II
1. The first product that catches my eye as I enter the market is_____________ .
Why do you think this item is placed up front?
2. What items are placed at the back of the market, farthest from checkout?
2A. Why do you think these items are placed in this location?
3. Which of these non-food related services are offered at your market?
ATM
Pharmacy
Flowers/Cards
Bank
Movie rental
Mailbox
Other services ______________________
Deli/Hot Ready to Eat foods
Cleaners
3A. Why do you think these services are offered at a market?
4. Go to the cereal aisle. What is the first thing that catches your eye in this aisle?
4A. Choose two cereals to evaluate; one aimed at kids, the other aimed at the health
conscious, adult consumer. List the cereal name in the space provided at the top of the
chart and highlight the one you predict is most nutritious. Complete the table and
highlight the one you determine to be the most nutritious.
Consumer Tip: It’s tough to find, but considered ideal to eat a cereal that has ≥ 5 g
protein and fiber/serving and ≤ 5 g sugar/serving…and all from whole food sources.
List name of each cereal you
are evaluating in appropriate
box at right
Fitness (Adult) Cereal
List Product Name:
Kids Cereal
List Product Name:
1. Total weight of box (oz.)
2. Price of box (in cents)
3. Price/ounce Note1
(This is called ‘unit pricing’)
4. How much sugar is
listed/serving? Is it added
natural, both (A/N/B)? Note2
Added=sugar, syrups, etc.
Natural=fruit, milk
5. How much fiber is
listed/serving?
Is it A/N or B? If yes, site
ingredient source.
6. How much protein is
listed/serving? Is it A/N or
B? If yes, site ingredient
source.
7. Considering only the info
you collected for this chart,
which is the most nutritious
choice?
Note 1: To calculate ‘UNIT PRICE’… divide the package price by the total package
weight (ounces). Example: Cost of product is $3.50 (350 cents) for 10 oz. box.
Therefore, the Unit Price is 350 cents/10 oz. or 35 cents/oz.
Note 2: NATURAL (N) = The substance is a natural part of the whole food, put there
by nature (apples are sweet naturally, they have no sugar added). This is preferred!
ADDED (A) = It is a separate (stand alone) ingredient added to the food (apple pie is
sweet because there is sugar added, in addition to the natural sweetness in the apple)
This ‘added/natural’ concept applies to more than just to sugar. Fiber, protein, vitamins
and minerals are also often added to a food to boost its content.
4B. Why is ‘unit pricing’ a useful shopping tool?
5. Go to the dairy section. Look for milk sold by the gallon.
Per 8 oz.
serving, list 
Nonfat Milk
(0% fat)
Protein
(grams)
% Daily Value
(DV) Calcium
(not grams)
% DV
Saturated Fat
(not grams)
Sugar
(grams)
Price/gallon
Whole Milk
(~4% fat)
5A. What is the biggest difference your chart shows between the nonfat milk and the
whole milk?
5B. Find a gallon of organic whole milk. Considering price, protein and calcium content,
which shows the biggest difference from whole milk?
5C. Draw/or print the USDA organic logo.
5D. What % of ingredients must be organic for a product to use this logo? (Refer to
class notes, text or USDA.gov site)
6. Compare a Certified Fair Trade (CFT) and similar Non-FT product in your market.
(Hint: check out coffee, tea and/or chocolate products to find FT products, or ask the
store manager for help, if needed).
6A. What does Certified Fair Trade mean?
6B. CFT Product Name_______________ Price/oz.__________
Non-CFT Product Name___________Price/oz._________
6C. Do you think the price difference is worth the extra cost? (This web link gives info
about Certified Fair Trade, as does your text and class notes.)