Reading Food Labels
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF READING FOOD LABELS?
THE INFORMATION ON FOOD LABELS IS INTENDED TO HELP CONSUMERS BECOME SAVVY ABOUT THEIR FOOD CHOICES. THE FRONT, BACK, AND SIDES OF A PACKAGE ARE FILLED WITH INFORMATION TO INFORM US WHAT THE FOOD CONTAINS AND TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE IN MAKING HEALTHIER SELECTIONS OF PROCESSED FOODS.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE SOME REALLY AMAZING BENEFITS OF READING FOOD LABELS:
FOOD LABELS PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT'S VITAL FOR YOUR DIET.
IT HELPS YOU PLAN YOUR DIET WELL IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC CONDITIONS.
IT CAN HELP YOU IDENTIFY 'SUGAR' CONTENT.
IT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND THE CALORIES PER SERVING WELL.
WHAT ARE 5 THINGS YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY LOOK FOR WHEN READING A FOOD LABEL?
SERVING SIZE AND SERVINGS PER CONTAINER. SERVING SIZE IS BASED ON THE AMOUNT THAT PEOPLE TYPICALLY EAT. ...
Calories. ...
Percent Daily Values. ...
Total Fat. ...
Saturated Fat and Trans Fat. ...
Unsaturated Fat. ...
Cholesterol. ...
Sodium.
When it comes to reading food labels, what's most important?
Serving size. Check to see how many servings the package contains. ...
Fiber. Eat at least 5-10 grams of viscous fiber each day. ...
Protein. ...
Calories. ...
Carbohydrates. ...
Total fat. ...
Saturated fat. ...
Trans fat.
What to avoid when reading food labels? 7 Nutrition Label Ingredients to Avoid:
Trans-Fat. ...
Partially Hydrogenated Oils. ...
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) ...
Artificial Sweeteners such as Aspartame, Sucralose, and Saccharin. ...
Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Benzoate. ...
Sodium Nitrites and Sodium Nitrates. ...
MSG (monosodium glutamate)
10 Realistic Ways to Eat Less Processed Food
Keep healthy snacks on hand. ...
Swap refined grains for whole grains. ...
Get creative in the kitchen. ...
Drink more water. ...
Try meal prepping. ...
Eat more vegetables. ...
Switch up your shopping routine. ...
Try some simple food swaps.