Nutrition Labels

[Kate]

Do you read nutrition labels when you buy and eat things? If so, what do you look for? With the FDA now requiring trans fat on the label, do you look at this?

I mainly look for the fat: trans, saturated and overall. Calories are also a concern. One of my favorite snacks I have found to be low-cal, low-fat and good protein: low-fat string cheese! It only has 50 calories and 2.5 gm fat per stick. Sometimes it ruins it when I look at the container for a cup of ice cream and see how many fat grams and calories there are. It makes me think twice!

[crunchies0313]

Well... funny thing with me and labels... If I know its good for me I love to look at it... but hate to look at the things I know I am not suppossed to eat. Even though while I was indulging myself with Ben and Jerry's... the number was big enough for me to have about 2 spoonfuls every day and thats it!!!

[txgurl]

I always read the labels for calories, cholesterol, trans fat, low saturated fat, and sugar content.

I am glad they are changing over to things with 0 trans fat.

I am now looking closer at fiber and no additives and perservatives. I have been heading over to Whole Foods a lot lately. I like the fish and chicken over there.

[clogaholic]

I usually check the labels when I'm trying something new. I look for the fat content, cholesterol,and calories.

[donnakay31]

I usually look for fat content, salt content, if it has calcium and the calories

[Meditating Gramma]

I always look at the labels and now that I am doing the south beach for awhile I pay attention to sugar, trans fat, and I always watch my sodium.

Julie

[YellowRoseTex]

Hi Kate,
I always read labels. Actually I have to because I am allergic to many different foods so the first thing I check is the ingredients. My next read is the fat, calorie and sugar contents.

Reading the ingredients can also be a shocker. :eek:

[jasper]

I'm also a big label reader, I actually bought a really yummy chocolate and banana muffin from a health bar, but they didn't give any nutritional information. I visited their website and requested it and suggested they put it on the label or make up a leaflet. It tasted too good that I'm afraid it mightn't be that "healthy" I am wary of health bars as the food isn't always as healthy as you would think!!

[blondgrl]

Yes, I read nutritional labels too. I first look for a couple of ingredients b/c I have food allergies. Then, I look for low fat grams, good protein amounts an some fiber and of course, lower calories! It is suprising how certain things you'd think would be low calorie will be high fat and other things are more healthy than you would think. Just like when you are eating out, many of the chicken sandwiches even chicken strips are much more fattening than eating a small or junior type burger if you have to eat there.......

[jcme]

I look for various things, usually to compare two products. Depending on what I'm looking at, I'm interested in calories, fat, protein, fiber and sodium.

A personal trainer recommended eating protien before working out so I am always searching for is a good tasting protein bar that is lower in calories.

[Marian Paroo]

I always read the labels carefully. You are lucky that the FDA is requiring trans-fat labels - here it is still optional.

[Pipkitty]

Now that my DH is a type 2 diabetic I always look at the lables. According to his diabetic councelor we need to keep an eye on the carbohydrates in the foods we eat. I was shocked to find most of the cereals I like have too many carbs! bummer! I guess I 'll have to eat oatmeal from now on. Jeannie

[LadyG]

I always look at labels. I mainly look for calories,fat, sodium, and fiber.

[debster]

By reading labels I am finding out that I haven't been eating very well and I think that the more processed foods I eat the worse off I am.