Reading Nutrition Labels

Nutrition labels allow you to:

- find out what is in your food

- compare different brands or foods to make healthier choices.

This is an especially important skill when trying to lose weight &/or live a healthy lifestyle.

Nutrition labels are found on most packaged foods. Legally, all labels must look the same & contain certain info (like serving size, calories, sodium, etc.). However, some manufacturers also choose to list non-required items (e.g., the healthier fats--  monounsaturated & polyunsaturated fat).

To learn how to or just brush up on reading nutrition labels, check out:

- Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics' A Guide on How to Read a Nutrition Facts Panel

- US Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) Are You Smarter Than a Food Label? video (approx 5min; if you want a more in-depth lesson, they also uploaded a 30min video...)

Want to teach your kids about making healthy food choices? The FDA has Spot the Block for ages 9-13. Or, try Kids Health's Figuring Out Food Labels (kids) or Food Labels (teens).