Reading Food Labels,By Sam Dorrance, 9/30/2004,What Is That?,You may have looked on the back of your favorite snack and seen a small chart that looks somewhat like this. Most people dont pay much attention to food labels, but those who are on diets or are health-conscious do.,A Food Label,A food label is a small chart on the back of most food item packages labeled “Nutrition Facts” that tells you what nutritional value the food has. Every food has a unique nutritional value.,What Does It Mean?,Using the food label, you can decide what you should and shouldnt eat. The FDA recommends that you stay away from foods that contain lots of fat, cholesterol and sodium, and that you get plenty of foods that contain vitamins, calcium, and dietary fiber. You should also get a certain amount of each nutrient every day. The food label tells you what percentage of that allowance the food gives you. All these percentages are based on a diet of 2,000 calories a day.,Serving sizes,Sometimes reading a food label can be tricky. Some food labels are broken up into serving sizes, so when you are reading the nutrition facts you are reading them for a portion, not the whole carton.,So What About Me?,In conjunction with the food guide pyramid, the food label is designed to help you eat healthy and understand what is in the food you eat. Your food choices can affect everything from your height to your mood.,So What About Me? (Cont.),As a teenager, you need good nutrition now more than any other time in your life. How well you eat now will affect you for the rest of your life. During this time in your life, getting enough Vitamins and Calcium and staying away from foods high in fat and cholesterol is important.,So, What Do I Do Now?,Next time you pick up that favorite snack, turn over the bag and look on the back. Does it have a lot of fat or calories in it? Does it have any nutritional value? Consider changing what you eat as a snack. It will benefit you greatly.,The End,