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We all know that reading nutritional labels is important for our health and the health of our families. The fact is, we are busy and it is just not practical to read every label on every food that we buy each week at the grocery store. We are familiar with most of the things that we buy on a regular basis (and if you are not, then you should be). But far too often we make snap decisions in the store that can cost us in the long run.
Never depend on the label’s health claims unless it is in the actual nutritional label or the list of ingredients. For instance, some sugary breakfast cereals carry the label “Smart Choice” even though they are loaded with sugar, chemical coloring agents and other unhealthy choices. This label claim is not regulated by the FDA, but by the food manufacturers themselves.
Anther label claims that you need to be aware of is “low fat”. While these foods are usually lower in fat than their alternatives, the way manufacturers often compensate for the taste difference in low fat foods is by adding more sugar. Watch the ingredients list and the nutrition labels of products to know what you are really eating.
When considering the calorie content of foods, double check the portion size. It is common for consumers to think a single can of soup is one serving, but most manufacturers consider the can to be two to three servings. So, you may be eating what you think is a 100 calorie can of soup when you are really eating 200 to 300 calories. Read the labels thoroughly and be aware of what you are really eating and serving your family. You can also make use of free services like canada 411 for some relevant information on where to get healthier food.
