A quick guide to reading the Nutrition Facts: Serving Size – this is where

you w
A quick guide to reading the Nutrition Facts:Serving Size – this is where you will see the size
of one serving and the number of servings in one containerTotal Calories – how many
calories are in one serving? (If watching your caloric intake, this is important!)%Daily Value
(%DV) – this will help evaluate how foods can fit into your daily meal planbased on 2,000
calories for an entire day, not just one meal (Do you eat more or less than 2,000
calories?)5% or less of the %DV of a nutrient is considered low (good for saturated fat,
trans fat, cholesterol & sodium)20% or more of the %DV of a nutrient is considered high
(good for fiber, vitamins and minerals) 4. Fats, Sugars, Sodium – eating less of each can help
lower your risk for chronic diseaseSaturated fat and trans fats have been linked to an
increased risk of heart disease (limit to <5 gm of fat per serving and no trans fats; overall
intake of total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol should be limited)High intakes of sodium
can increase your chance of high blood pressure (limit to <2400 mg)Too much added sugar
can make it difficult to meet nutrient needs within a calorie requirement 5. Vitamins,
Minerals, Fiber – aim for high levels of eachan increased intake of fruits, vegetables and
whole grains can help lower your risk of chronic diseaseaim for 3 or more gm of fiber per
serving with a goal of 25-30 gm per day (or 14 gm per 1,000 calories eaten)increase intake
of foods containing Vitamins A&C, Calcium and Iron 6. Protein – an important nutrient
needed for overall health (no recommended amount listed on the label) 7. Carbohydrates –
sugars, starches and fiber (whole grains plus fruits and vegetables) 8. Sugars – ADDED
SUGARS is now on the revised Nutrition Facts LabelsTotal grams of sugar should be less
than 50% of the total grams of carbohydrate in a product 9. Ingredient list – items are listed
in descending order by weight