DINING AROUND TOWN
FIGURING OUT FOOD LABELS Use nutrition facts to make informed choices about food. By Laura Khalil
These tips and tricks will help you make an informed choice on whether a food product is healthy or not. It is important to note that food products are all different depending on the food category they are in. For instance fruit has a higher level of sugar yet is still healthy 66 DESTINATION JEDDAH MARCH 2017
because of the vitamins it contains. In comparison, candy also has high sugar levels, but is not healthy because it is high in fat and sodium and contains no nutrients. It is easiest to read the label top to bottom, starting with the serving size. Then, look at the “calories” and “calories from fat.” Calories indicate the quantity of energy that is obtained from the food. This section is very important if you are trying to maintain or lose weight.
Helpful Tip
As a general rule of thumb for a 2,000-calorie diet, a food product around 50 calories is low, 100 calories is normal and 500 or more is high. Underneath the “% Daily Value*” is the general suggestion of intake for each key nutrient for a 2,000-calorie diet.
PHOTO/LINA MOHAMMED
Have you ever looked at a packaged food item that had a food label you just couldn’t understand? Food labels are tough to decipher, with terms and sections that can be overwhelming.