Nutrition Label Reading Games (Grades 2–6)
These free nutrition label games teach kids to read a Nutrition Facts label by doing it: scale the serving size to what they really ate, judge the % Daily Value with the 5/20 rule, find the added sugars, compare two labels, and test a front-of-package claim against the back. They suit grades 2 to 6, run in the browser, and need no sign-up.
Every label is made up, not a real brand, but it follows the real US Nutrition Facts format and the real Daily Values, so the skill carries straight to the cereal box at home. Each wrong answer says why it is wrong and shows the rule.
5 Nutrition Label Games
- Serving Size ScalerGrades 3–6Fill the bowl with the servings you really ate and scale the label to match.
- Added Sugar SleuthGrades 2–6Spot added sugar in ingredients, read the label, and scoop grams into teaspoons.
- Daily Value MeterGrades 3–6Read a Nutrition Facts label and place each % Daily Value on the LOW–MIDDLE–HIGH meter.
- Label Face-OffGrades 3–6Compare two Nutrition Facts labels and pick the winner for your goal.
- Front-of-Pack DetectiveGrades 4–6Flip the pack: test claims like LOW FAT or NO ADDED SUGAR against the Nutrition Facts label.
How to Read a Nutrition Label in 4 Steps
- Serving size first. Every number is for one serving. Multiply by the servings you ate.
- Use the 5/20 rule. 5% Daily Value or less is low; 20% or more is high.
- Get less, get more. Less added sugar, sodium and saturated fat; more fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium.
- Check the claim. Test any front-of-package claim against the label and the ingredient list.
Common Questions
How do you teach kids to read a nutrition label?
Teach it in the order the label is read. First, check the serving size and the servings per container, because every number on the label is for one serving. Next, read the % Daily Value column with the 5/20 rule. Then look at Added Sugars, sodium and saturated fat (get less of these) and fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium (get more of these). Last, compare two labels for the same goal.
What is the 5/20 rule on a food label?
It is a quick way to read the % Daily Value column. 5% DV or less of a nutrient is low. 20% DV or more is high. For example, 460 mg of sodium is 20% of the 2,300 mg Daily Value, so that food is high in sodium.
Why does the serving size matter so much?
Every number on the label is for one serving, not for the whole package. A bag of chips may show 150 calories but hold 2.5 servings, so eating the whole bag is 375 calories. Kids who multiply by the number of servings they actually ate read labels correctly; kids who skip this step undercount.
What is the difference between total sugars and added sugars?
Total Sugars counts all the sugar in the food, including sugar that is naturally there, like the sugar in milk or fruit. The line "Includes Xg Added Sugars" shows only the sugar that was put in during making, such as cane sugar, honey or corn syrup. Added sugar is part of the total, not extra. About 4 grams of sugar is 1 teaspoon.
Can a front-of-package claim like "low fat" be misleading?
Yes. A claim can be true but still give the wrong idea. "Low fat" foods can be high in added sugar, "only 100 calories" can be for one serving of a package that holds three, and "made with real fruit" can mean a little fruit near the end of the ingredient list. The back label is how you check.
What grades are these nutrition label games for?
Roughly grades 2 to 6, ages 7 to 12. Finding added sugars starts in grade 2. The serving size, % Daily Value and comparison games suit grades 3 to 6, and checking front-of-package claims suits grades 4 to 6. They are free, with no ads and no sign-up, and the labels are made up, not real brands.
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