Jo Ann Carson, director of clinical dietetics at UT Southwestern, offers five tips to making the healthiest food choices based on the new Nutrition Facts food labels:
Serving Size
Compare the serving size with the amount you consume. If the package lists one slice of pizza as a serving and indicates that there are six servings total, and you plan to eat the whole things, remember to multiply all numbers by six.
Nutrition Information
Notice nutrition information for as packaged and as prepared. Many convenience foods require you to add ingredients like milk and butter. Those additions may boost the numbers over what is considered optimum.
Total Fat
As you keep total fat low, remember to keep saturated fat low, too. It's saturated fat that raises cholesterol and contributes to heart disease.
Fat-Free & Nutrient-Rich Foods
As you select fat-free and low-fat foods, look for nutrient -rich foods, look for nutrient-rich foods. Fat-free cookies are not necessarily nutrient-rich, while a fat-free apple is.
Daily Values
Use % Daily Values, if it is helpful to you. The object is to not exceed 100% each day in any of the categories--total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate and dietary fiber.
