Food Label

Do you know how to read a food label?

It can seem like quite a daunting task when you first look at a food label.  There’s A LOT of information packed into a very small space!

The first thing to do is check the ingredients.  They are generally listed in the order of their amount in the product, from greatest amount to smallest amount.  So, I usually pay attention to the first 3 ingredients on the list because they make up the bulk of what I’m going to buy. 

I avoid foods that list sugar or salt as one of the first 3 ingredients.  I also avoid foods where I don’t recognise the names of the ingredients.  If you see long chemical names or strings of letters and numbers – these are usually additives / preservatives / colourants / stabilisers and unnatural compounds that are probably not good for you. 

Then, think about what benefit you will get from eating the product you plan to buy.  If it contains healthy ingredients like vegetables, unrefined grains, good-quality proteins and healthy fats… then you know your body will be glad you bought it.