Reading the Label
What is the importance of taking that extra time to check out what we're buying?
Product packaging can be confusing and sometimes downright misleading! For example, a product that says it's "made with whole grains" may not be a good source of dietary fiber, and a product that says "reduced sugar" may still be high in added sugars.

Checking the nutrition facts label is the easiest way to ensure you're getting a clear picture of the nutritional value of a food. You can use the standardized label to compare foods, and/or you can use the Percent Daily Value (%DV) to compare the amount of nutrients in a food to what the average adult needs in a day. In general, 5%DV or less is low, and 20%DV or more is high.

For example, if you were looking for a nutritious, satisfying granola bar choice, you'd want to find one with a lower %DV of added sugar and higher %DVs of fiber, protein, and fat. One of the great features of the recently-updated nutrition facts label is that it lists added sugars specifically, so consumers can make more informed choices.