Eating good is important Warhawks but, knowing what you are eating is more important. On most if not all products, ingredients, and food items we purchase and eat, will come with a Nutrition Facts Label that lists all the information the food or package contains. Most individuals will just look at the calories each item contains. However, there is more to the nutrition facts than just the calories contained. So what is on the food label and what does it mean?

            When looking at the food nutrition label, it comes with a variety of information. You can find the serving size, servings per container, calories, calories from fat, nutrients, % daily value, footnote, cholesterol, dietary fiber, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, protein, saturated fat, sodium, sugar alcohols, sugars, total carbohydrates, total fat, and vitamins. I know Warhawks, it’s A LOT, especially when we might not know what all of this means or what a Nutrition Fact label is. It contains product-specific information that is broken down into four different parts: the servings and calories, % daily value, nutrients, and footnote with daily values. Under each of these you will find specific information. In the servings and calories, you will find serving size, servings per container, calories, and calories from fat. In this section, you will see the amount of food that is commonly eaten at once, the number of servings in the package, the number of calories and calories from fat. In the % daily value, this shows how much nutrients is in one serving of the food. In the nutrients, you will learn about the nutrient content of foods you consume in your diet. Lastly, with the footnote with daily values, you will see it at the bottom of the label that is based on your daily diet calories. In addition to the nutrition facts, you can find the ingredients at the very bottom by its common name in a descending order. Consumers use this list to find out what the food contains and it source of nutrients that you might want more or less of. 

            Understanding what is on a nutrition fact label is very important for consumers. It has all the information you need to know when consuming foods or beverages. When making, eating or drinking a consuming product, make sure to read the nutrition label to better benefit your health. What you put in your body is up to you so make you are putting in what is best for you!

Start strong, finish stronger

Emma O’Connor