There are lots of myths and misinformation about protein out there!
What do you already know about proteins in the diet?
Take the 5-question quiz.
Subunit: Amino Acid
Function: Build tissues, regulate body functions, aid in movement.
Foods: Meat, seafood, eggs, plants, dairy
Caloric density: 4 calories per gram
Proteins are the workers of the body.
They have physical shapes that perform many different jobs. The proteins we eat are broken down into amino acid subunits which are recycled to build our hair, skin, muscles, and tissues. Proteins are used for regulation, protection, and transportation.
Aside from the nutrients they provide, proteins are also important in cooking. Protein gives food its structure and texture. We coax proteins to change shape by adding heat, acid, or agitating them in a mixer. Culinary practices involving proteins and other macromolecules are what makes whipped cream frothy and angel food cake rise. Changes in protein shape and function are what makes milk turn to cheese and clear egg whites turn white in the frying pan.
The order of amino acids in a protein is determined by the DNA that provides the instructions. Each of the 20 standard amino acids has the same basic structure, but different side chains that give each one unique properties.
Some amino acids interact well in water, and some do not. Some are charged molecules that are attracted to or repelled by other charged molecules. Some make bridges with themselves. All of these interactions determine how a protein folds up. This short video shows you how:
Why are we learning about protein folding in a culinary class?
Because culinary practices disrupt these protein interactions and affect our food.
What are plant and animal proteins made of?
How are the proteins the same and different?
Can people who eat only plant-based food get enough protein?
Do plant and animal sources of proteins provide the same amount of energy?
Can a plant-based diet help people with health conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes?
Comprehension questions
Includes the following components:
Background on preserving milk and the chemistry of coagulation
Variations in Cheese
Cheese as part of a healthy diet
Lab Protocol for making homemade Mozzarella
Comprehension questions
Choose one or more assessment options from the Student Choice Grid for this macromolecule.