There is so much different information about food and their ingredients out there that you might feel like healthy grocery shopping requires a PhD. And who has time to check the labels on every product?
However, learning to understand nutrition value labels is paramount to help you lose weight as it creates an awareness of what you’re putting into your body.
Here’s a beginner’s guide to what certain labels mean by law:
• Low fat: Containing three grams of fat or less per serving
• Lean: Containing less than 10 grams of total fat and four grams of saturated fat (we’ll get into fat later)
• Extra lean: Containing less than five grams of total fat and two grams of saturated fat.
• Low in calories: Containing 40 calories or less per serving
• Light/Lite: Containing a third or less calories than a comparable product, or containing half the fat or sodium than a comparable product. It must always be specified which is the case.
• Fat-free: Containing 0.5 grams fat per serving and no processed/added fats or oils.
• Reduced fat: Containing half the fat or less than a comparable product.
Taking in label values may seem like a lot of work initially, but it quickly becomes a second nature. And if you don’t have time to read them while grocery shopping, just read them at home and remember it for later.