Sometimes reading nutritional labels can be like reading a foreign language. New simplified nutritional labels are now available and will be printed on the package’s front. To help consumers make informed decisions about the calories they consume, the United States Department of Agriculture and United States Department of Health and Human Services released new dietary guidelines.
Beverage makers such as The Coca-Cola Company will make it easy for consumers to access calorie information as part of The American Beverage Association’s Clear on Calories initiative. Beverage companies have committed to ensuring that all 20-ounce and smaller beverage containers will display the total. calorie countsThe label on their cans or bottles will display the calorie count. Company-controlled vending machines, soda fountains, and other machines that display calories will have them displayed on the buttons or near the machines.
“It’s exciting to see beverage companies move the labels to the front and make them easier to understand for consumers,”Daniel Santibanez is a registered dietitian. “We all need to make informed decisions about the products we are consuming, and making nutrition labels easier to find and understand is just one step forward in that direction.”
These five tips can help you increase your label literacy during your next shopping trip
1. Pay attention to serving sizes and calories. You may only need 160 calories for your favorite sandwich cookie, but how many times will you eat that?
2. Take into account both the calories coming from fat and the total calories. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 40 calories per portion is low while 100 calories are moderate and 400 calories are high.
3. Before you shop, plan your meals. Make sure you prepare healthy, tasty meals. You will be able to avoid high-calorie snack foods and help you avoid impulse purchases.
4. Keep track of your calories “cheat sheet.”Sometimes, you may come across food in the grocery store that does not contain nutrition labeling. Carry a calorie sheet, or use a mobile phone app.
5. The Percent Daily Value (DV) is available. Although the DV is based on a 2,000-calorie diet, it can be used as a guideline regardless of whether you eat more or less.
Start reading nutrition labels and calorie counts next time you go to the supermarket or fountain machine. You’ll be more informed and make better choices.
