How to Read a Nutrition Facts Panel

A couple days ago I wrote about the US Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Database (see March 14 post). That post started with the line “Not everything we eat comes in a package conveniently printed with a Nutrition Facts panel…” So back to that Nutrition Facts panel; that black and white box on the back of packaged foods filled with, often confusing, nutrition information for that particular food product. Most people have no idea what to do with the Nutrition Facts panel, so I want to introduce to you another resource. The American Dietetic Association’s Website, www.eatright.org, has a resource section “For the Public” which includes some nice information on how to read a Nutrition Facts panel, including not only the basics of reading a Nutrition Facts panel, but also information about health claims on foods and reading the Nutrition Facts panel for children under two (at the ADA's Nutrition Facts page, click the link for the topic of your choosing). The information is short, sweet and easy to understand, so take a read and test it out on the next box, bag or jar you pull from the supermarket shelf.

A couple days ago I wrote about the US Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Database (see March 14 post). That post started with the line “Not everything we eat comes in a package conveniently printed with a Nutrition Facts panel…” So back to that Nutrition Facts panel; that black and white box on the back of packaged foods filled with, often confusing, nutrition information for that particular food product. Most people have no idea what to do with the Nutrition Facts panel, so I want to introduce to you another resource. The American Dietetic Association’s Website, www.eatright.org, has a resource section “For the Public” which includes some nice information on how to read a Nutrition Facts panel, including not only the basics of reading a Nutrition Facts panel, but also information about health claims on foods and reading the Nutrition Facts panel for children under two (at the ADA's Nutrition Facts page, click the link for the topic of your choosing). The information is short, sweet and easy to understand, so take a read and test it out on the next box, bag or jar you pull from the supermarket shelf.