1. Start by looking at the serving size and # servings per container. There may be more than one serving in the package. If you eat more than one serving, multiply the rest of the numbers accordingly. (If package has two servings and you eat the whole bag, multiply the calories, etc. by two.)
2. Consider the calories. For weight loss, the average teen or young adult should aim for <150 calories per snack and <400 calories per meal. (This varies with age, size, gender and activity level.)
3. Limit fats. (Especially saturated and trans fats), cholesterol and sodium.
4. Look for carbohydrates with more fiber and less sugar.
5. Try to balance carbs and protein. Some foods will be motly carb or mostly protein. Try to get some of both at each meal and snack.
6. Does the food include other important nutrients? Foods are required to list their relative amounts of vitamins A and C, calcium and iron.
7. Check the footnotes. At the bottom of the label is a guide to recommended daily totals, based on the number of calories eaten each day.
** For a detailed review and explanation of food labels, download the FDA's free brochure from the link below.**
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FDA Food Label Brochure
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- Dr. D
- United States
- Dr. D. is a U.S.-trained, board-certified pediatrician who has been in private practice for nearly fifteen years. She is a single mother, raising an adopted daughter from Guatemala. She diagnosed herself with early-onset Type 2 diabetes as a pre-medical student at the age of twenty-one. She has incorporated her personal and professional experiences with her love of cooking to develop a rich resource for parents, teens and others struggling with weight, obesity and diabetes. View my Complete Profile to see my other blogs that may be helpful to you.
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