TOOLS YOU CAN USE
Food Labels-What Do They Really Mean?
If you’re counting calories, carbs, sugars, or just restricting daily intake of some other ingredient, it’s important to understand how to read food labels. Pretty simple, really. Just take a quick look at the information you’ll find on the label that the government requires.
- The Serving Size on the food label is listed in both the metric and common measurements.
- Servings Per Container will be a shock because most of us have become used to the “more is better” mentality here in America.
- Listed next will be Calories and Calories from Fat (Try to keep total saturated fat intake no more than 10% of total calories per day).
- Cholesterol will be listed in mg. Guidelines suggest not more than 300 mg daily.
- Sodium, also measured in mg with guidelines for adults 1,500 mg daily or less.
- Total Carbohydrates in grams. There are15 grams in 1 exchange, 1 starch, 1 fruit, or 1 milk serving.
- Notice fiber and sugar are a subgroup of total carbohydrates.
- Daily caloric levels are listed based on the needs for an average woman at 2,000 and for an average man at 2,500.
New Dietary Guidelines in 2010
The current Dietary Guidelines have existed since 1980 with minor revisions every five years. A major revision will be due in 2010 and the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services are now assembling a committee of experts to establish the new guidelines. They will focus on the following:
- Prevention of Chronic Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Nutrition Biochemistry & Physiology
- Obesity
- Food Safety and Technology
- Update 2005 Dietary Guidelines
The goal of the committee will be to give the public expert sound advice on what make up a healthy, balanced diet. At the same time, they’ll give manufacturers guidance so their products are healthier and we are more educated as consumers .
