Australia's Science Forum

Hi guys

What do people use for the energy of food experiment as an alternative to peanuts? We currently use cheezals, mini wheets and marshmellows, but just wondering about other suggestions.

Kathryn

Tiny teddies have no nuts in them (maybe traces) and high in energy. Bacon is good too. Fattier the better.

tiny teddies - they go really well! Use a dissection probe to stab them (very gently of course - otherwise they break) in the back. You kind of have to twist it in. Hold it with a retort clamp on a retort stand. Place a test tube of water a couple of cm above it (about 15cm full) and position it with a clamp also. Light the tiny teddy and watch! (sometimes needs 2 matches, or else use the big matches.) Use a thermometer to test before and after temperatures of the water.

There is discussion about this from earlier days so if you do a search (maybe for peanuts?) you might come up with some other ideas

The last thing used here were Rice Wheels - crunchy rice snacks. Worked well.

Just about to do this prac (in the next half hour) and we are using Tiny Teddies and Nutri Grain. Hopefully it goes well.

Just finished the prac and the Tiny Teddies (actually Homebrand Tiny Bears) worked a treat.

We use Corn Chips, and then extend by comparing brands, and even flavours (more cheese powder = more fat/energy).

Watch out for the nutrigrains folks. I read somewhere we weren't supposed to use them because of their high peanut content. Anyone else come across that?

Just grabbed the box of Nutri-Grain and peanuts aren't mentioned on the ingredients list. Would have thought if it contained peanuts there would be a warning of some sort? The only warning on it is stating that it "contains gluten" plus the usual "may contain traces of peanuts and/or tree nuts".

we use nutrigrain, tiny teddies (tiny bears), rice crackers and barbeque shapes. It's kinda gross seeing them melt as oppose to burn because of the fat content!

I experienced an allergic reaction to a Shapes-type biscuit we used last year, so we'll be trying Tiny Teddies this year!

Hi, we did this Prac this afternoon and tried dried banana chips. Worked really well. Had a better result than the tiny teddies. Just thought I'd share,
Cheers Trish

We use Cheezels

We used water crackers last term.

We used Cheezels. Scary to see how much oil actually seeped down the side of the alfoil covered corks!