How to read Food Labels

ali.c · 22-09-2007 3:45pm #1

Right so i think this is a common mistake made when people embark on a healthy eating plan is portion size.

Watch the portion size on labels, for example on a lot of cearals the portion size given is 30g. this barely covers the bottom of a bowl, so you may end up getting a lot more cals in that you had planned on.

Tar.Aldarion · 22-09-2007 4:12pm

Also, get a list of E numbers to translate. You get to see what is in the food that way.

Vegeta · 22-09-2007 4:25pm

in the ingredients listing they go in order of highest to lowest.

Tar.Aldarion · 22-09-2007 4:31pm

Maybe some links about food labels?
http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/food_and_nutrition/menu_planning/nutrition_facts_labels.html

or comics?

http://www.newstarget.com/020148.html

Hagar · 22-09-2007 4:44pm

Whats isn't said is often as important as what is said. For instance "No artificial sweeteners" doesn't mean that there are no sweeteners, it just means that there are no artificial ones. Apple juice sugars are often added and will be well down the list of ingredients.
I love the phase on frozen oven chips "90% fat free", does that equal "contains 10% fat"?

ali.c · 22-09-2007 4:52pm

oh and watch out for trans fat too (evil), the usually show up on the ingredients list as partially hydrogenated oils.

On the no artifical additives, yup if it comes from a natural source and not made in a lab technically it is not artifical. It doesnt mean that its natural either, colours can be derived from natural sources, it is still dye and it doesnt mean tis good for you!

r3nu4l · 25-09-2007 3:24pm

Beware of 'low-fat' and 'light' labels. Many of these foods do indeed contain very little fat...but they are loaded with sugar to make up for this.

What happens to sugar that isn't burned off? That's right folks, it gets converted to fat. :mad:

So if it has a 'low fat' label, be sure to check the number of grams of sugar per 100 grams or millilitres.

How to read Food Labels

Comments