Cheat Sheet: Reading Nutrition Labels

Percent Daily Value

The percent daily values tend to be based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Although percent daily value displays the average amount of nutrients everyone should meet, every individual's needs may vary. However, it is a great place to start.

The nutrition label does the math, so the milligrams or grams do not need to be added up throughout the day, instead of having to total one hundred percent. A quick guide to understanding the percent daily value of nutrients is if the food contains five percent or less, it is low in nutrients, and if it includes twenty percent or more, it is high in nutrients.

Now that you know what the percent daily value means, keep reading to understand how to use labels to compare your food choices.