When it comes to making healthier food choices, nutrition facts can be an invaluable tool. Knowing how to read and interpret the information on nutrition labels and compare them with other foods can help you make informed decisions about which items are best for your health. Here’s what you need to know about using nutrition facts to determine if a food is healthy.
Serving Size
The first thing to look at when you’re reading a nutrition label is the serving size. This is important because it tells you how much of the food constitutes one serving, as well as how many servings are in the package. For example, if a package of crackers says one serving size is 10 crackers, then there are likely several servings in the package. Pay attention to this information so that you don’t consume more than one serving at a time.
Calories
The next thing to look at on the nutrition label is calories per serving size.
This will give you an idea of how much energy you’ll get from consuming that particular food item. Generally speaking, foods with higher calorie counts tend to be less healthy than those with lower calorie counts. Keep in mind, however, that some foods may be more nutrient-dense than others despite having similar calorie counts.
Nutrients
Once you have an idea of the calorie count per serving size, take a look at the list of nutrients provided on the label. This will tell you whether or not the food contains certain vitamins and minerals like calcium or iron, as well as other nutrients like fiber and protein. Try to find foods that are rich in nutrients like calcium and iron while being low in unhealthy fats and added sugar.
Conclusion:
By paying attention to serving sizes, calories per serving size, and nutrient content when looking at a food’s nutrition facts, you can make better-informed decisions about which foods are most beneficial for your health. With this knowledge in hand, it’s easier to determine which foods are truly healthy based on their nutrition facts.