Figuring out Food Labels

Figuring out Food Labels

How to read them and what you should watch out for!

What food do you think this is?

Look for clues!

Multiple Choice

Which food did you think that label was from?

What clues did you use?

• Serving size?

• Nutrients?

• Ingredients?

• Package or no package?

It is important to know how to read food labels because it helps to:

• Avoid certain ingredients if you have a food intolerance or allergy, such as dairy

• Determining carbohydrate and sugar count if you are a diabetic

• Provides key information; such as serving size, calories, total fat, saturated, cholesterol, protein, carbohydrate and vitamin content.

• Contains a list of the ingredients 

  
  

Check the ingredients!

• Listed in order of what percentage is in that product

• If you can't read it or do not know what it is, it is probably manufactured/processed

• Some ingredients are to help the product last longer (preservatives)

• Look for "real" ingredients!

Less processed ingredients is a better choice!

Food Label Guide

• What is the serving size?

• How many calories?

• What are the MACRONUTRIENTS?

• What are the MICRONUTRIENTS?

• What is the 5/20 rule?

Multiple Choice

Serving Size = 1 cup, Servings per container = 2, Calories per serving = 100. If I eat the whole package, how many calories am I eating?

• 100

• 200

• 300

• 400

%Daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

• You can see gram amounts of each macro and micro nutrient

• % of daily value

• How many calories should a person eat each day??

Poll

How many calories should a person eat in a day?

• 3,000

• 2,000

• Depends on the person

• 1,500

What are the recommended DVs?

• The %DV helps you determine if a serving of food is high or low in a nutrient

• Each nutrient is based on 100% of the daily requirements for that nutrient (for a 2,000 calorie diet).

Be Food Label Savvy!

• Never judge a food by its packaging!

• Many food manufacturers have done research on what catches the consumer's eye and what consumers look for when trying to make healthy choices

Poll

Which food do you think has the worst "false marketing"?

Questions?

Now for your assignment!