Serving Size
"The most important thing to look at when comparing products is
the serving size," says Margaret Denzer, clinical dietitian at The
Medical Center of Aurora. Serving sizes are not consistent — it
often takes some mental math to figure out if what you're looking
at is a healthy choice.
Calories
The trick is to balance how many calories you eat with how
much your body actually uses and pay attention to where most
of the calories come from. High-calorie foods rich in beneficial
nutrients are often worth cutting calories elsewhere in your diet.
Percent Daily Value
The daily value percentages are based on a 2,000 to 2,500 calorie
per-day diet. Sources considered "high in" certain nutrients are
those that provide 20 percent or more of the daily value per serving.
Total Fat
Mono and polyunsaturated fats are healthy and contain beneficial
omega-3 fatty acids. All fats have a similar number of calories,
but healthy fats are imperative for transporting vitamins through
the body. "Products labeled 'fat free,' 'low fat,' and 'reduced fat'
are not necessarily better," Denzer says. Often, they will have the
same amount of calories as their counterparts but will include
more sugar, sodium, or other substitutions.
Dietitian Offers Ammo for Battling the
Nutrition Label in the Grocery Aisle
The dizzying array of food product choices lining the
supermarket aisles can make shopping tedious and
confusing. Armed with a few simple label-reading
tricks, you'll be in and out of the store in no time.
by Rhea Maze
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FOOD LABELS
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