Understanding nutrition labels can seem overwhelming, but once you know the basics, you will read them like a pro. The Nutrition Facts Label is a label placed on packaged foods/drink containers to give you precise information about what you will consume.
This label is organized into a few main categories. The first category is the Serving Size which shows the total number of servings in the entire package/container, and how much is usually eaten at one time. The serving size helps you to decide how much to eat and drink in a day, as well as how many people you can serve from that container/package.
Whether you love them or hate them, Calories serve the purpose of providing information about how much energy you will receive from this food/drink. Energy requirements are different for everyone based on your age, gender, and activity level.
Another important category is the Percent Daily Value aka % D.V. This section provides you with information concerning nutrients such as fiber, carbohydrates, protein, sodium, and fat. When trying to decide what your nutrient needs are for the day, follow the 5/20 rule. If the daily value is 20% or higher, you are getting a high amount of that particular nutrient. For example, if a package of crackers has the nutrient sodium %D.V.(percent daily value) as 22%, this means that you are consuming 22% of your sodium need for the day with these crackers. Nutrients such as sodium, fat, and sugar should have a percent daily value number of 5% or lower. Consuming high values of these nutrients can lead to unwanted health problems.
Reading food labels provides you with facts concerning serving sizes, calories, percent daily values, and nutrients. All of the information on the food labels work together to help you make healthier choices during meal and snack times.
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.