Understanding Food Labels

Understanding Food Labels

Amber Flowers

Nutrition SCI/241

August 10, 2012

Roudayna Bajjani-Anthony

Understanding Food Labels

Week 1 Assignment was very exciting to me as I watched the videos and read the text. It allowed me to be educated in nutritional facts that I was unaware of before.

According to the video “The Food Label and You” the 5/20 Rule is a guideline to the percentage of daily nutrients your body needs. For good nutrients such as calcium, fiber and vitamins you want the daily percentage to be closer to 20%. For bad nutrients such as oils, sodium, fat and carbs you want the daily percentage to be closer to 5%. Here is an example from my pantry. I chose Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. These daily percentages are using the prepared figures.

Total Fat | 29% |

Sodium | 30% |

Carbs | 16% |

Vitamin A | 15% |

Calcium | 15% |

Fiber | 4% |

After looking at these daily percentages and taking into account the 5/20 rule, there are some very unhealthy nutrients in Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. The total fat is way too high for just one item and serving. Along with the sodium, that would mean you would really have to watch what else you consumed. Vitamin A is a good nutrient that is found in Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and also a good source of calcium.

After reading the article “How to Understand Nutritional Food Labels” I found the following six key elements. First is serving size and servings per package. Serving sizes determines the amount of calories that are going to be taken in. Second were the Calories and Calories from fat. Calories are what is measured in how much energy a serving is going to give. Third key elements are the nutrients that we need limit. They are fats, cholesterols and sodium. Fourth element is the nutrients that we should get enough of and often do not. They are vitamins, calcium and fiber. Fifth element are the Footnotes at the bottom of the label. It gives the facts that the percentages are based off of. It includes the...