Nutrition Facts    

1.Healthy Living

i.

Most packaged foods have a Nutrition Facts label which you can use to make smart food choices quickly and easily. Try these tips:

1. Keep these low: saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium.
2. Get enough of these: potassium, fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron.
3. Use the % Daily Value (DV) column when possible: 5% DV or less is low, 20% DV or more is high.

ii.

Check servings and calories. Look at the serving size and how many servings you are actually consuming. If you double the servings you eat, you double the calories and nutrients, including the % DVs.

iii.

Make your calories count. Look at the calories on the label and compare them with what nutrients you are also getting to decide whether the food is worth eating. When one serving of a single food item has over 400 calories per serving, it is high in calories.

iv.

Don't sugarcoat it. Sugars contribute calories but have few, if any, nutrients, so look for foods and beverages low in added sugars. Read the ingredient list and make sure that added sugars including glucose, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, maple syrup, and fructose are not in the first ingredients.

v.

Know your fats. Look for foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol to help reduce the risk of heart disease (5% DV or less is low, 20% DV or more is high). Most of the fats you eat should be polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Keep total fat intake between 20% to 35% of calories.

vi.

Reduce sodium (salt), increase potassium. Research shows that eating less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium (about 1 tsp of salt) per day may reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Most of the sodium people eat comes from processed foods, not from the saltshaker. Also look for foods high in potassium, which counteracts some of sodium's effects on blood pressure.

vii.

Don’t give in when you eat out or are on the go.

viii.

Make smart food choices and watch portion sizes wherever you are. Try these tips:

1. At the store, plan ahead by buying a variety of nutrient-rich foods for meals and snacks throughout the week.
2. When grabbing lunch, have a sandwich on whole-grain bread and chose low-fat/fat free milk, water, or other drinks without added sugars.
3. In a restaurant, opt for steamed, grilled or broiled dishes instead of those that are friend of sauteed.
4. On a long commute or a shopping trip, pack some fresh fruit, cut-up vegetables, string cheese sticks, or a handful of unsalted nuts to help avoid impulsive, less healthful snack choices.