Where’s the first place you look for nutritional info on the foods you consume? It’s on the packaging or label, of course. There are all types of information, which includes the amount of sugar the product contains, the amount carbs, protein or fat and the vitamin and mineral content. There’s also a list of ingredients, so you can see whether the food is Frankenstein food made in a lab or free of additives.
The label also gives you one more important fact, serving size.
If you buy a bag of chips, you automatically think that’s the serving size. That’s not necessarily true, even if the bag is smaller. Sometimes, the serving size will be far smaller than the bag. For those potato chips, a serving size is 160 calories and it includes one ounce, about 15 chips. Before you go shopping, you can find an online picture of your favorite food’s nutritional content to help decide whether it fits in your diet.
Fresh fruits and vegetables don’t have labels to read.
Finding the nutritional facts on whole foods is a bit harder, since most don’t come packaged. There’s seldom a sign in the fruit and vegetable department or meat department, which provides all the nutritional facts. You have to go online to get that information or use a program that provides it. However, a simpler technique is to vary the color of the fruits and vegetables you eat. Each color contains different phytochemicals and nutrients, so by having a rainbow on your plate, you’ll get a wide variety of nutrients.
Always opt for the food with the least amount of ingredients.
If you’re trying to choose peanut butter, look on the label for ingredients, instead of the nutritional chart. If you see anything besides peanuts or peanuts and salt, find a different type of peanut butter to purchase. The labels tell you not only the good things the food contains, but also those things that can negatively impact your health.
- Don’t be fooled by the advertisement. Unless you’re gluten intolerant or have celiac disease, you don’t need a gluten free product. It’s not any healthier. While we’re on the topic, energy bars are often candy bars with a better publicist.
- You might be surprised to find that frozen fruits and vegetables are just as good as fresh and sometimes better. That’s because they’re given more time to ripen and freeze right after they’re picked.
- If you’re going to a fast food restaurant, many provide the nutritional information on their website and some even provide a paper printout with a nutritional analysis of the food.
- Taking advantage of our Precision Nutrition ProCoach curriculum can help you plan a healthy diet that’s designed especially for your needs.
For more information, contact us today at UpFit Training Academy
