Nutrition Labeling and Weight Control

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Nutrition Labeling and Weight Control

• The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
  Service

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Nutrition Labels -

• Vital for weight control
• Emphasize nutrients that we eat in excess
• Help compare similar foods

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Using nutrition labels effectively

• Focus on one or two nutrients at a time
• Compare similar products
• Use Daily Value (DV) to tell if a food is a
  significant source of a nutrient
• less than 5 - poor source
• 10-19 - good source
• 20 or more excellent source

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Consider portion size

• Increase values listed if eat more
• Decrease values listed if eat less

Fat Grams 10 g.
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Nutrition label not required for fresh food or
restaurant food

• Voluntary information list near fresh food
• Restaurant nutrition information required only
  for menu items making a nutrition claim
• reduced or low fat
• reduced or low calorie

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How to improve food selections

• Examine the labels of
• 1-2 food items at home
• Look for similar products in store
• Compare the nutrients of interest
• Try new product if better choice for your goals

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Take Away Messages

• Read labels more often
• Focus on 1-2 nutrients
• Start with one of two products at home
• Look for better products at store
• Try new product if better nutritional value