Find the facts you need for healthier eating
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Shifting your habits towards eating healthy often begins with finding out what’s really in your foods, and you will find that information on the Nutrition Facts labels. They may look a little strange at first, but they can tell you a lot once you understand how they’re laid out.
First, finding the Nutrition Facts should be easy. Look for a white block on the side or back of the package, titled “Nutrition Facts” in big, black letters. Once you’ve found it, here’s what you’ll see:
Serving Size
Right below the “Nutrition Facts” heading, you’ll find the serving size and the amount of servings per container. The serving size is the amount of this food (e.g. one cup, two tablespoons) that contains the calories and nutrients listed on the rest of the label.
Calories
Right below that, you’ll see the calories and calories from fat in each serving.
Nutrients
Between the Calories section and the tiny print at the bottom (the part that usually starts with * Percent Daily Value) you’ll see nutrients listed in grams or milligrams per serving, and as a percentage of your daily value (more on that later). Let’s break these down into two categories: