Reading the Label

Reading the Label
What is the importance of taking that extra time to check out what we're buying?
Product packaging can be confusing and sometimes downright misleading! For example, a product that says it's "made with whole grains" may not be a good source of dietary fiber, and a product that says "reduced sugar" may still be high in added sugars.

Checking the nutrition facts label is the easiest way to ensure you're getting a clear picture of the nutritional value of a food. You can use the standardized label to compare foods, and/or you can use the Percent Daily Value (%DV) to compare the amount of nutrients in a food to what the average adult needs in a day. In general, 5%DV or less is low, and 20%DV or more is high.

For example, if you were looking for a nutritious, satisfying granola bar choice, you'd want to find one with a lower %DV of added sugar and higher %DVs of fiber, protein, and fat. One of the great features of the recently-updated nutrition facts label is that it lists added sugars specifically, so consumers can make more informed choices.