3 min
Reading a food label in 20 seconds
Serving size first, then calories, then protein, then added sugar. Ignore the front of the package.
The full lesson
1. Serving size — is that what you ate, half, or double? 2. Calories per serving — multiply by your servings. 3. Protein — 10+ g is good for a snack, 20+ for a meal item. 4. Added sugars — its own line; under 5 g is low, over 15 g is a dessert. 5. Fiber — 3+ g helps fullness. 6. Sodium matters for blood pressure; under 400 mg per serving is reasonable.
"Natural," "keto," "low-fat," "made with whole grains" on the front tell you almost nothing. The back tells the truth.
Remember
- Serving size, calories, protein, added sugar.
- The front is marketing.
Try this: Read five labels this week. Post one surprise in the community if you like.