Wait! Before you grab that bag of chips, have you ever stopped to read the label? Most people don’t. So what does that black and white label really mean? At first glance the numbers and percents may look pretty intimidating.As you keep reading this article you will become more familiar with its format and see how this label can help you compare products for nutritional quality.

Serving size is based on the amount of food people eat. This is listed in standard house hold measurements such as cups, ounces, or pieces. Similar foods usually have similar serving sizes. This is for easy comparison for nutritional value of other foods and products. Now that you understand what a serving size is, lets do a reality check to see how the listed serving size compares with how much of this food you usually eat. If you consume double the amount of the calories then the other nutrients also double.

Calories are energy. The amount of calories shown in one serving is the amount of energy you will have. When the calories you eat aren’t burned off they are stored as fat and weight gain is the result. Calories from fat show how much fat you are consuming in one serving

All food companies must list at a the amount of fat, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fibers, sugars,protein, vitamin A and C, calcium and iron that are contained in one serving of the product. Too much or too little can have a major impact on your life so start reading labels.

The footnote is at the bottom of every label and it is a reminder that the percent Daily value is based on a 2000-calorie diet. It is a saying that a persons nutritional value may vary by particular calorie needs. Think of 2000 calories a day as a reference point.