Grass-Fed, Free Range, Organic…Oh My!: 16 Tips On How To Read Food Labels For Real was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
1. Health v. Hype : Why Are Food Labels So Confusing?
Eating healthy and rocket science seem to have more in common than ever. Nearly 59% of consumers admit to having a hard time understanding nutrition…
2. Sugar & Her Slick Sisters
Americans are officially addicted to sugar – and we can blame the food industry for this for sure. Sugar is literally in everything, and since…
3. Organic Overload
This term is regulated, however be clear – if a product has a USDA label that says “organic,” 95% or more of the ingredients must…
4. Natural Is Naturally A Lie
While the FDA has defined the term “natural,” there is no objections to added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances. So be weary of the…
5. Zero Trans Fat
Zero means none right? Not exactly. When it comes to food labels, products marked as zero trans fat actually indicate it contains less than 0.5…
6. Protein, Please
Yes products packing in the protein department are always a great choice – however please beware of products labeled as an “excellent source of protein”…
7. Calcium Claims
Vitamin D is definitely a winner and manufacturers know we’re digging this dope source of calcium too. So if something is calcium enriched or the…
8. Essential Vitamins, Duh
A product that toots their horn for having essential vitamins and minerals can sometimes be a “duh” moment. One prime example – cereal. Just about…
9. The Multi Levels Of Multigrain
This one is the most misleading of all. When fiber became the cool kid on the block may consumers were buying multigrain everything to meet…
10. Free Range Comes With A Price
Free range chicken is becoming more and more popular amongst health conscious poultry eaters. However while “free range” means your edible birdie was exposed to…
11. Big Fat Lie
Fat free used to fool us all back in the day. But truth is some of us are still falling for this big fat lie.…
12. So About That Sodium
“Low Sodium”: Translation: There’s less than 140 milligrams of sodium per serving, which is important to know if you’re choosing foods that are often packed…
13. Dairy v. Lactose Free
FYI – the FDA hasn’t defined dairy or lactose-free. In general, dairy-free should not contain cow’s milk, while lactose-free products have had the lactose, or…
14. Facts On Fiber
High fiber products mean there are at least 5 grams of fiber per serving. Why does this matter? Well many of us fall short on…
15. Gluten Free Gone Bad
Gluten free products are easier to find in your local grocery store and even on restaurant menus. Which is great if you have a gluten…
16. Size It Up Girl
Another trick in the streets is the size of food servings. To make a product look healthier many manufactures list information based on a tiny…
17. Careful Counting Calories
If you are crazy about counting calories understand that often times really healthy food choices may be higher in calories than say that 100 calorie…
