Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Nutrition Facts

Have you ever taken the time to read the Nutrition Facts to help decide what you should buy at the grocery store? If your answer is no, you should definitely start! Many people only check out the prices of items and the amount of food in the package. If you are dieting or counting your calories, you should definitely turn the package over to educate yourself about portion size and the amount of calories per serving.

Let's take a look at three packages of mozzarella cheese, all priced the same and offering 2 cups of shredded cheese in the bag; Made with 2% Milk, Fat Free, or Made with Skim Milk. Which of these do you think has the least amount of calories for a serving size of 1/4 cup? If you say Skim Milk, you couldn't be further from the truth! This has the 80 calories. The 2% Milk actually only has 70 calories, but the Fat Free is the way to go with only 45 calories per serving.

Another fine example of this is candy. I assumed that by buying sugar free candy that I was saving myself a few calories. I later went back to the store because I was wondering just how many calories I was saving... to my surprise, I actually was eating more!

The best way to lose weight is to keep yourself educated. I know that we all lead busy lives and don't always have time to stop and smell the flowers, but the next time you're out buying groceries you should probably stop to read the labels when deciding on what you want to purchase to help reach you dietary goals. If you're concerned with what is going into your body, be sure to check both the Nutrition Facts and Ingredients. They are the best way to be an educated buyer. Do not be fooled by the names and fancy packaging created by companies and their associates. Trust the facts and make educated decisions the next time you're browsing the food aisles.

Nutrition Data offers a Daily Needs Calculator, located on the right side of the homepage that can help you find your body mass index and recommended daily values for key nutrients. The site also provides you with Nutrition Facts of many commonly eaten foods. This is a great research tool for planning your weekly menu.

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