
Understanding food labels
How to understand what food labels really mean
One way to watch the calories, fat, and sugar that your family may get from a certain food item is to read the Nutrition Facts label found on most food and beverages. Always pay special attention to:
- Serving size. All nutrition information is based on 1 serving—in this case, 1/2 cup. If you use 1 cup, that is twice the amount per serving.
- Ingredients list. Ingredients are listed on the label in order from highest amount to lowest amount by weight.
- Calories
- Total fat
- Sugar content. If you see sugar (or another name that means sugar) in the first 4-5 ingredients, it’s worth thinking about a different choice, like one that’s sugar-free or reduced-sugar.

