Reading Food Labels for Fat and Cholesterol
Do you ever wonder what is really in the foods you eat? The labels on canned, packaged, and frozen foods tell you. Comparing these labels will help you choose foods that are low in fat, cholesterol, and calories. Reading food labels is one of the best things you can do for your nutritional health.
What to Look For
Look for the box on the label that says, "Nutritional Facts". Then look at the numbers for each of the items below:
Total Fat
This number tells you how many grams (g) of fat are in one serving. Choose foods with the lowest numbers of total fat.
Saturated Fat
This number tells you how many grams (g) of saturated fat are in one serving. Saturated fat raises your cholesterol the most. Look for foods that have little or no saturated fat.
Cholesterol
This number tells you how much cholesterol is in 1 serving. Choose foods with the lowest numbers for cholesterol. You should eat less than 200 to 300 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol a day.
Serving Size
This is the amount of food in one serving. Ask yourself if this is the amount you will eat. If you eat more, you will get more of everything on the label, including fat, cholesterol and calories.
Calories From Fat
This number tells you how many calories from fat are in one serving. Look for foods with the fewest calories from fat.
Percent Daily Value
A large number means one serving contains a lot of that ingredient. A low number means one serving contains a small amount. Look for foods that have low numbers for total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.
Sample Food Label:
See also:
Reading Food Labels for Sodium and Fiber
Nine Food Label Traps!
Interpreting the Salt Content on Food Labels
The New Food Label and
The Dangers of Trans Fat from our sister site, FitnessandFreebies.com.
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