Nutritional Labels and why they matter

Ever grab a bag of food, then glance at the back and immediately think to yourself, " what do all those numbers and percentages mean?" Nutrition labels teach us about the foods we eat and show us what exactly is in each item. Once you learn how to read them, nutrition labels can help make grocery shopping much easier and allow individuals to make better decisions when choosing what to eat.

The first thing to consider is the serving size and servings per container. This is very important because it states how much food the food label is referencing to. For instance, a bag of food might have 2 servings, so if you consume the whole thing you need to double the calories and nutrients. Always check the calories per serving so you know how much energy you're getting.

common components of a nutritional label (source : etsy)

The other key part of the label is the nutrients list. Here you'll find info on the fat carbs protein sugar sodium, vitamins, and minerals. The label also displays the % Daily Value (%DV) that will tell you what a nutrient in one serving of the food will contribute to a daily diet. A low % DV is 5% or less; a high is 20% or more. This can help you make more comparisons between foods and take note of important nutrients like fibre, sodium, and added sugars. One number won't tell you if something is healthy, so take the time to read the whole panel.

In the end, reading nutrition labels is a good skill for consumers to have that will allow consumers to better recognize their food habits. Rather than just choosing products based on a marketing or the way a product looks or sells itself, shoppers can take the time to analyze what the product actually contains. With just a few seconds of reading and a few quick calculations, anyone can become a pro when it comes to the nutrition label!