Cheat Sheet: Reading Nutrition Labels

Use Labels To Compare Food Choices

Knowing how to read and understand nutrition labels will help when comparing food options to make the healthiest choice. For instance, two different cans of soup will generally contain the same amount of food and display the same serving size. With this in mind, each nutrient can be compared from can to can to decide which can of soup to purchase.

Remember to avoid sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sugars when possible. Also look for foods high in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Many fortified foods will contain many vitamins and minerals that may be hard to find without the use of supplements.