Nutrition labels feature a lot of info, but you dont have to look at it all.
I work faster and smarter by looking at these key pieces.
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What jot down of grocery store shopper are you?
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Im the one lingering in the produce section, letting my eyes dictate what I put in my cart.
Thats because Im also the shopper who takes nutrition label reading seriouslybut in a good way!
I typically glance at the entire label first, but then focus on three specific parts:
Why those?
Does that mean Im always serving apple slices and peanut butter or roasted salmon and asparagus?
Were an all-foods-fit family, but I do have goals in mind for the packaged foods I buy.
Reading the Nutrition Label
Ive spent more time than anyone should (its my job!)
looking at the Nutrition Facts panel on packaged foods.
Ive even taught patients and clients how to use it.
The funny thing about the label is that most people arent using it to their advantage.
Many people quickly glance at the calories, but thats not sufficient info for making a decision.
You dont need to spend a copious amount of time reading it either.
Personally, I dont care much about calories or total fat.
Mostly because those numbers dont tell me whats important.
Along with the ingredient list, these are the pieces of info that help me make my decisions.
Saturated fat can have a negative effect on our health.
Its the bang out of fat that may cause cholesterol to build up and clog your arteries.
I use that information not to count my daily intake but as a guide for shopping.
If a productssaturated fat is high, Ill look at the ingredient list to see why.
If its butter or ground beef, Ill know its because saturated fat is naturally found in these foods.
Fiber
Im a bit of a fiber-fanatic, but Im OK with that.
For snacks, cereals and other prepared foods, Ill look at the label.
If possible, I take a stab at select something with at least 2 grams of fiber per serving.
This strategy also helps when choosing one bread over another.
Just pay attention to portion sizes so that youre comparing the same amounts of the food.
The ingredient list comes in handy here, too.
Manufacturers may add fiber to foods that isnt normally there.
Added Sugar
I love sweetspie, cake, cookies, ice cream, candyyou name it!
I also frequently enjoy those foods.
Added sugars show up in places you wouldnt expect, like bread, crackers and even salsa.
I dont need those foods to be sweetened with added sugar.
When I have sugars, Id like to enjoy them as sweets.
Chan School of Public Health.
Then, dont forget to enjoy all of those delicious finds.
