Reading Food Labels

Reading Food Labels

Reading labels can help you make wise food choices. Most packaged foods in the grocery store list nutrition information on the package in a section called the Nutrition Facts.

• The Nutrition Facts tell you the serving size and the amount of various nutrients such as total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and fiber per serving.
  
• Nutrient content claims such as "low fat" provide a reliable description of the product.
  
• The list of ingredients shows the ingredients in descending order by weight.
  
• Foods that are exempt from the label include foods in very small packages, foods prepared in the store, and foods made by small manufacturers.
  

The Nutrition Facts

Above is an example of a Nutrition Facts label. At the top, you'll see the serving size and the number of servings per container. The information on the label is for the serving listed.

The serving on the food label may not be the same as the serving size in your food plan or the serving you normally eat.

If you eat twice the serving listed on the label, you would need to double all the numbers in the Nutrition Facts section.

For example, if you usually eat 2 cups of chili with beans, you'll need to double all of the numbers in this Nutrition Facts section.