The ABCs of Food Labels

Back-to-school season creates a special kind of homework for parents. It’s the daily kitchen challenge of putting together nutritious breakfasts, snacks and lunches for school-age kids.

Fortunately, those chores can be less puzzling when you break down product labels, according to Karla Otero and Maria (Lupita) Townsend, certified specialists in oncology nutrition at Baptist Hospital. Here are their recommendations for decoding food labels.

Breakfast Cereals

If you’re serving cereal, look for these guidelines on the Nutrition Facts panel: 

Sweet Red Flags

False Claims

Do you know how to spot a misleading label? Here are a few facts to keep on hand:

 Look for:

 And remember:  Product ingredients are listed in descending order by weight.  Those in larger amounts appear first on the label. So if sugar is listed first, select your portions carefully or look for a healthier option.

“Aim for fresh instead of processed food. Focus on fruits and vegetables,” Ms. Otero said. “When you purchase packaged or processed foods, spend time reading labels.  Know what you are eating and serving your family.”