How to read a food label in 5 steps

HOW TO READ A FOOD LABEL IN 5 SIMPLE STEPS

1. 1. Can you pronounce all of the ingredients? In general, if all foods look recognizable as real, whole, and unprocessed, you’re good to go! Can you pronounce all of the ingredients? In general, if all foods look recognizable as real, whole, and unprocessed, you’re good to go! LOOK AT INGREDIENTS FIRST LOOK AT INGREDIENTS FIRST

2. 2. Typically they are in order of highest abundance, so if sugar is the first ingredient, you know the majority of the product is sugar. Typically they are in order of highest abundance, so if sugar is the first ingredient, you know the majority of the product is sugar. CHECK THE ORDER OF INGREDIENTS CHECK THE ORDER OF INGREDIENTS

Sugar goes by many different names: brown sugar, buttered sugar, cane sugar, carob syrup, and high fructose corn syrup just to name a few. If this is listed as the first ingredient, you know the majority of the item is sugar. Sugar goes by many different names: brown sugar, buttered sugar, cane sugar, carob syrup, and high fructose corn syrup just to name a few. If this is listed as the first ingredient, you know the majority of the item is sugar. AND SPEAKING OF SUGAR... AND SPEAKING OF SUGAR...

3. 3. “Added sugar” is a newer addition to food labels, whereas before there was only total sugar listed. As we know, there are natural sugars in a lot of foods (like fruits and vegetables), so we care more about the amount of ADDED sugar in a product. “Added sugar” is a newer addition to food labels, whereas before there was only total sugar listed. As we know, there are natural sugars in a lot of foods (like fruits and vegetables), so we care more about the amount of ADDED sugar in a product. CHECK THE ADDED SUGARS CHECK THE ADDED SUGARS

4. 4. Is it in line with what you originally thought? Sometimes they’re much smaller than what you’d think. Is it in line with what you originally thought? Sometimes they’re much smaller than what you’d think. CHECK THE SERVING SIZE CHECK THE SERVING SIZE

5. 5. As a reminder, a calorie is a unit of energy, and they're meant to do just that - provide energy. We need this life force to feel sustained and satiated throughout the day. So very lastly, glance at the caries on the food label. As a reminder, a calorie is a unit of energy, and they're meant to do just that - provide energy. We need this life force to feel sustained and satiated throughout the day. So very lastly, glance at the caries on the food label. CALORIES CALORIES

If an item isn’t very calorically dense, it won’t keep you full and satiated for very long! So ensure you're eating enough throughout the day to feel energized! If an item isn’t very calorically dense, it won’t keep you full and satiated for very long! So ensure you're eating enough throughout the day to feel energized! CALORIES, CONT. CALORIES, CONT.