A student, Alex, often wakes up in the middle of the night feeling extremely hungry. His dinner consists of only candy, soda, and white bread. Why is he always hungry at night?

Clues:

His meal was mostly simple sugars.

Simple sugars digest quickly, leading to a fast drop in blood sugar.

He didn’t eat complex carbs that provide long-lasting energy.

🔎 Question for Teams:

Which carbohydrate should Alex add to his diet to stay full longer?

Mia, a sprinter, drinks a sugary energy drink before her 100-meter race. She starts strong but feels weak by the end. What went wrong?

Clues:

She consumed a monosaccharide that provided instant energy but burned out quickly.

Complex carbohydrates like starches provide long-lasting energy.

🔎 Question for Teams:

What should Mia eat before a long race to maintain her energy?

Ben drinks a glass of milk every morning but always has a stomachache and bloating. His friend drinks milk too but doesn’t have any problems. Why is Ben feeling sick?

Clues:

Milk contains lactose, a disaccharide.

Some people lack the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose.

This condition is called lactose intolerance.

🔎 Question for Teams:

What type of carbohydrate is lactose?

What should Ben do to avoid feeling sick?

Emma, a student, eats a donut and sugary coffee for breakfast. By mid-morning, she starts feeling sluggish and unfocused. By lunchtime, she’s starving again. Why does she feel this way?

🃏 Clue Cards:

🔹 “I provide a sugar rush but leave you feeling tired later.” (Monosaccharide)

🔹 “I give long-lasting energy because I take longer to break down.” (Polysaccharide)

🔹 “Common sources include candy, soda, and sweet pastries.” (Monosaccharide - Glucose)

🔹 “Found in whole grains, brown rice, and fiber-rich foods.” (Polysaccharide - Starch & Fiber)

🔎 Questions for Teams:

1️⃣ What type of carbohydrates did Emma consume?

2️⃣ Why is she feeling tired so quickly?

3️⃣ What should Emma eat instead for steady energy?

Liam, a basketball player, ate a chocolate bar and a sports drink before his big game. In the first quarter, he played great! But by halftime, he was exhausted. What went wrong?

🃏 Clue Cards:

🔹 “I give immediate energy but don’t last long.” (Monosaccharide)

🔹 “I provide energy over time and help sustain activity.” (Polysaccharide)

🔹 “Found in fruits, honey, and soft drinks.” (Monosaccharide - Fructose)

🔹 “Found in pasta, potatoes, and brown rice.” (Polysaccharide - Starch)

🔎 Questions for Teams:

1️⃣ What carbohydrate did Liam eat?

2️⃣ Why did his energy crash so quickly?

3️⃣ What should he eat before a game for better endurance?