Get the nutrition facts on common foods found in Fruits, Vegetables, and Cooked Seafood. Learn about the calories, fat, and nutrients in these foods as Percent Daily Values (%DV) based on that found in a 2,000-calorie diet.
We must know how to read a food label to plan a healthy diet. Food labels show us if a food has a little or a lot of certain nutrients. Look on the side of a product to find the Nutrition Facts title.
You will find the serving size of the food below the nutrition facts title. Similar food products have similar serving sizes. The servings per container are also included to compare what you eat with the serving size of that product. So remember, if the serving size is 1 cup and you eat 2 cups, then you will need to double the numbers on the label.
The amount of calories in one serving of the product is listed. Only a few nutrients are listed on the Nutrition Facts label, which relate to today's most important health issues. The label lists total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium because people overeat these.
% Daily values show how one product serving contributes nutritionally to a 2000-calorie diet. Use the % daily values to see if a food has a little or a lot of nutrients.
The label requires fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, fiber, sugars, protein, vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron. Other nutrients may be listed if the company would like to list them.
Fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron are listed because people do not eat enough of these every day. It would help if you tried to eat at least 100% of the daily value of each of these every day.