Who knew that not reading the fine print on the back of prepackaged foods could hurt you? It wasn't very long ago that all a package had was an ingredient list and perhaps an expiry date. Today however, one needs a PhD in nutrition to figure out what those words and numbers in a nutrition label mean! I attended one of the top online nursing programs in one of the top online nursing schools and I still had a hard time figuring it out. For those that get it, it's a great tool to figure out what you're putting in your body. But for those that don't, here goes nothing.
Before you even begin reading the nutrition label on the back, don't be fooled by the loud lettering on the front that claims that the food is “Low fat” or “Diet-Friendly”. These words really mean nothing. You see, in the front they can say just about anything they chose to, about the food. But the back is a whole another issue. Nutrition labels that go on the back of prepackaged foods are closely monitored and regulated by the FDA. So the next time you grab a bag of Doritos, don't bother with the front, just go right to the back!
Begin your search with looking at the serving size first. This will be in particularly small print for a good reason. An average person would consider a standard size of a Doritos bag to be around 10 servings. But reading the fine print on the back would tell you that it’s actually 20! This is particularly important to read as watching what you eat is all about portion control.
Next pay close attention to the sodium content which is found towards the lower end of the food label. If you are consuming your entire sodium ration for the day in one meal in a watery soup, your cardiologist may have a thing or two to say about that. Recommended daily values have been established for a reason, so tread carefully when it comes to salt!
Then comes’ the clincher, the calorie information! This must be read while keeping the serving size in mind – remember that the number of calories is per portion and not for the entire package, no matter how small the package! An average person requires between 2,000 and 3,000 calories per day. This is a good guideline to use for how much to consume a day. Working on one of the best online nursing phd programs, my friends and I from other online registered nursing programs barely had time to eat leave alone watching what we ate. These guidelines came in really handy in keeping an eye on our weight. Under government regulations, food manufacturers must include calcium, iron and vitamin information as well.
With food allergies being rampant these days it is important that the allergy information be read carefully, especially the section that details the processing facilities shared by the food with other known allergens. If that is a concern, most labels will clearly mention that the food is processed in a plant that also processes nuts or wheat or whatever else the allergen may be.
So the next time you let your six year old throw his favorite cookies or crackers in your shopping cart, put on your cheaters and at least glance through the label. You might be surprised at what you find!
For a thorough and easy to follow formula for calculating how many calories come from carbs watch the following video:
Before you even begin reading the nutrition label on the back, don't be fooled by the loud lettering on the front that claims that the food is “Low fat” or “Diet-Friendly”. These words really mean nothing. You see, in the front they can say just about anything they chose to, about the food. But the back is a whole another issue. Nutrition labels that go on the back of prepackaged foods are closely monitored and regulated by the FDA. So the next time you grab a bag of Doritos, don't bother with the front, just go right to the back! Begin your search with looking at the serving size first. This will be in particularly small print for a good reason. An average person would consider a standard size of a Doritos bag to be around 10 servings. But reading the fine print on the back would tell you that it’s actually 20! This is particularly important to read as watching what you eat is all about portion control.
Next pay close attention to the sodium content which is found towards the lower end of the food label. If you are consuming your entire sodium ration for the day in one meal in a watery soup, your cardiologist may have a thing or two to say about that. Recommended daily values have been established for a reason, so tread carefully when it comes to salt!
Then comes’ the clincher, the calorie information! This must be read while keeping the serving size in mind – remember that the number of calories is per portion and not for the entire package, no matter how small the package! An average person requires between 2,000 and 3,000 calories per day. This is a good guideline to use for how much to consume a day. Working on one of the best online nursing phd programs, my friends and I from other online registered nursing programs barely had time to eat leave alone watching what we ate. These guidelines came in really handy in keeping an eye on our weight. Under government regulations, food manufacturers must include calcium, iron and vitamin information as well.
With food allergies being rampant these days it is important that the allergy information be read carefully, especially the section that details the processing facilities shared by the food with other known allergens. If that is a concern, most labels will clearly mention that the food is processed in a plant that also processes nuts or wheat or whatever else the allergen may be.
So the next time you let your six year old throw his favorite cookies or crackers in your shopping cart, put on your cheaters and at least glance through the label. You might be surprised at what you find!
For a thorough and easy to follow formula for calculating how many calories come from carbs watch the following video:
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