I vaguely remember learning to read and am pretty decent at reading a map (even without satellite navigation), but it would have been great if someone would have taught me how to read a nutrition label while I was in grade school. My mom was good at limiting the amount of sugar, fats and refined foods that made it into our cupboards and frig. I even remember “the cereal rule”: I was only allowed to eat cereal with less than 9 grams of sugar per serving. 

As an adult I have learned the importance of reading and understanding a nutrition label and how to make that skill (unlike 10th grade geometry) work to the benefit of me and my family. I believe this skill is something  we should teach kids in grade school so they have a firm grasp on what they are putting in their bodies, which can help them make better choices and hopefully avoid obesity and its related diseases. 

 The FDA’s web site features a section called How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label.  Below is one of the charts on the site. If nutrition labels were color-coded as they are in the FDA’s example, I think much of the confusion would be eliminated and we would all have a better understanding of the do’s and dont’s of nutrition. 

Sample Label for Macaroni & Cheese

The FDA’s web site has a lot of good information on the nutrition facts label including serving size, daily values and nutrients. For example, did you know that while both nonfat milk and reduced fat milk have the same amount of calcium (30%), for most adults the nonfat milk is a better choice because it has no saturated fat and 40 less calories per serving than reduced fat milk?