Know what you eat...
Your key to reading Label

The easy way out here is to remember that if you can read it and understand what it says. If it is simple, it is usually better for you!

TIPS:

When reading a label, always compare amount per serving and serving size to judge the quantity of food they are addressing. Secondly, note if the item has fat and where it is coming from(i.e. saturated fat, trans fat, etc.), as Trans fats are no longer acceptable for humans to consume.

Sodium is typically very high in processed foods, so beware of additional sodium intake from these areas. The USDA recommends we intake only 2,300 mg (approximately 1 tsp of salt) of sodium per day, so when you are reading labels, take that into consideration.

Carbohydrates are best utilized by your body when they contain dietary fiber, so make sure that your carb is coming mostly from the dietary fiber rather than sugar.

TIPS: Reading Ingredient Lists

Different types of sugar react in different ways with our bodies, so not all sugars are alike... some are far better than others.  However, this list is simply meant as a tool to show you how many forms of sugars are out there so you have a better idea when reading labels.

When it starts with on of the following it really means sugar, avoid products with ingredients starting with:

• Sugar
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Karo Syrups
• Monoglycerides
• Fructose
• Malitol Dextrin
• Monosaccarides
• Dextrose
• Nectars
• Brown rice syrup
• "Light" sugar
• Brown sugar
• Molasses
• D-tagalose
• Powdered sugar
• Cane juice
• Evaporated can juice
• Raisin juice
• Malted barley
• Fruit juice concentrate
• Xylitol
• Rice sugar
• Maltose
• Lactose
• Rice sweeteners
• Levulose
• Rice syrup solids
• Diglycerides
• Isomalt saccharides
• Disaccharides
• Sorbitol
• Malitol
• Sucrose
• Cane sugar
• Malt dextrin
• Sugar cane
• Corn sweetener
• Corn syrup