Hi, I'm Josie Fehrenbacher and I'm a student

at Eastern Illinois University.

Today I'm going to help you figure out food labels.

Food labels can be a little confusing, but if you think of

them like a table of contents you will know that they're just

a quick reference to find out what's inside your food item.

The food label tells you about the nutrients inside,

and the nutrients are what you need for your body

to work and function properly.

The food label is printed on the outside of many packages,

so it's pretty easy to find.

All of these items here have a food label on the outside of

cans and jars, on the side of your bread, on the bag of chips,

and on the sides of your containers.

Food labels aren't friendly for kids because they're calculated

and based on adult needs, but you can still get

helpful information from them.

You can get a general idea about how many servings

are in a package, how to measure a serving,

and what nutrients are inside the box.

You can also use the label to compare foods, like which food

has more calcium, or which food has more fiber.

There are three sections to a food label.

The first section is the serving size section, and the second is

the nutrient section, and the last section is the footnote.

The serving size is at the top.

The serving size tells you how to measure one serving, and it

also tells you how many servings are inside your package.

Along with that, serving sizes are measured in similar amounts,

such as cups, ounces, or pieces.

Having similar measurements helps you

compare different food items.

Next is the energy that the food will provide.

Energy is measured in calories.

Calories from fat are also listed as well.

People like these on labels because it helps them

make decisions about how much energy to consume

to support normal daily function.

People also pay attention to calories sometimes

because they are watching how much energy

to support their special activities.

The nutrients listed below are all based one serving.

First, at the top of the list is total fat.

Fat is important for your body to function and to develop.

Below fat, your label might list saturated fat,

unsaturated fat, and trans fat.

The reason why fats are listed is because some people

have to limit their intake of fat and the label

helps them make healthy choices.

Next is cholesterol and sodium.

Sodium is also known as salt.

Both of these things are measured in milligrams,

and they're on the label because just like fats,

sometimes people like to limit how much they consume.

Next is total carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are your main source of energy,

and they are also listed in total.

Dietary fiber and sugar add up to the total carbohydrates.

Next is protein, and it is measured in grams.

Protein helps your body build and repair

your organs, and your muscles, and and your blood.

Protein requirements vary from boys to girls

and they change with age.

Vitamins and minerals are listed below protein.

Vitamins and minerals do not give you any energy,

but they help support your normal body functions.

So, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron

will always be on the label.

Other vitamins and minerals may also be there.

The last section is the footnote.

The footnote is there just to remind you that

all the percentages listed on the right side of the label

are based on what an adult needs.

They are different for you for kids,

but they are still helpful.

Reading food labels can be difficult,

but with practice and looking through them

as you prepare your meals will help you.

I hope you found this information fun and helpful.

Thanks for watching.

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