Not so Fast! 3 Tips for Reading Food Labels

POPSUGAR Fitness

Source: Not So Fast! 3 Tips For Reading Food Labels

Eating a healthy diet often means spending time reading food labels at the grocery store. The next time you hit the market, follow these important tips to ensure you're not missing something.

  • Look at more than calories: When it comes to losing weight, you've probably grown accustomed to checking the calorie counts, but remember that this number isn't everything. Many healthy foods (like quinoa) tend to be higher in calories; likewise, a food that's low in calories may contain a lot of sodium or saturated fat. Read through every part of the label to get the full picture, and then make the decision if you're going to eat it.

  • Compare apples to apples: You have two boxes of crackers in your hands and quickly see that one contains 220 calories per serving, while the other is only 140. Before you choose the box with fewer calories, double-check to make sure you're comparing equal serving sizes. Also take a look to see how the nutritional content compares.

  • Read, and reread: There are certain foods you feel confident placing in your cart because you've previously read through the labels. Play it safe by checking the label again every month, just to make sure the company hasn't changed or added ingredients without you knowing; the whole-grain pretzels I used to buy are now sadly made with enriched flour.


Related Content:
Are You an Egghead? Egg Whites vs. Whole Eggs
Nutritious Store-Bought Cookies: Worth the Hype?
Fruits With the Highest and Lowest Sugar Content


Follow FitSugar on Twitter
Become a Fan of FitSugar on Facebook