13/07/2021
Learn what to look for on the label.
1 - Start with the serving information at the top.
This will tell you the size of a single serving and the total number of servings per container (package).
2 - Next, check total calories per serving and container.
Pay attention to the calories per serving and how many calories youâre really consuming if you eat the whole package. If you double the servings you eat, you double the calories and nutrients.
3 - Limit certain nutrients.
Check key nutrients and understand what youâre looking for. Not all fats are bad , and total sugars can include both natural and added sugars. Limit the amounts of added sugars , saturated fat and sodium you eat, and avoid trans fat. When choosing among different brands or similar products, compare labels and choose foods with less of these nutrients
4 - Get enough of the beneficial nutrients.
Make sure you get enough of the nutrients your body needs, such as: calcium, choline, dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A, C, D and E.*
5 - Understand % Daily Value.
The % Daily Value (DV) tells you the percentage of each nutrient in a single serving, in terms of the daily recommended amount. If you want to consume less of a nutrient (such as saturated fat or sodium), choose foods with a lower % DV (5 percent or less). If you want to consume more of a nutrient (such as fiber), choose foods with a higher % DV (20 percent or more).
Here are more tips for getting as much health information as possible from the Nutrition Facts label:
Remember that the information shown in the label is based on a diet of 2,000 calories a day. You may need less or more than 2,000 calories depending upon your age, gender, activity level, and whether youâre trying to lose, gain or maintain your weight.
When the Nutrition Facts label says a food contains â0 gâ of trans fat, but includes âpartially hydrogenated oilâ in the ingredient list, it means the food contains some trans fat, but less than 0.5 grams per serving. So, if you eat more than one serving, you could end up eating too much trans fat.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the Nutrition Facts label seen on packaged foods and drinks. In 2016, the FDA released changes to the label to make it easier to see how many calories and added sugars are in a product and to make serving sizes more realistic.
# A BETTER YOU