Someone told me, if I took a quick glance at a food label and the bad stuff is under 20%, i.e., fat, sodium, etc. and the good stuff is over 20% that I can be pretty sure that I’m staying on the healthy side of things. Is that a good general rule? – Melanie
Although I love the idea of simplifying food label evaluation (CLICK HERE for more information about ‘How to Read Food Labels’), I’m not sure that is the best approach. Sugar is not given a % of Daily Value target, nor is protein. What you’re looking for should depend on the type of item: snack, condiment, ingredient, whole meal. Also, fresh fruits & vegetables don’t have labels and you certainly don’t want to leave them out of your diet. Comparing between brands is a good approach. For example, different brands of soups may all be over 20% sodium, but some will have more fiber or protein than others. – Debbie J., MS, RD
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