Everyone has a daily limit for calorie consumption. This limit depends on factors such as age and activity level. It's important to be aware of the number of calories in foods and beverages to ensure that you stay within your daily limit. A caloric value is assigned to every source of nutrition in order to help consumers manage their diets. Knowing the resources that can assist you in finding caloric values can help you plan meals and manage your health.
Step 1
Read the nutritional label on the food packaging. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires manufacturers to develop and provide nutritional labels for all processed foods. According to the FDA, providing a nutritional label for raw produce or fish is voluntary. Caloric value is typically the first item listed and is labeled "Calories" (see Resources).
Step 2
Visit a website such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyFood-a-pedia. MyFood-a-pedia is a comprehensive food database. You can find caloric values by entering a single food item or a specific dish in the search field. The database will provide you with a list of related food items to choose from. After you make a selection and enter the serving size of the food item, MyFood-a-pedia will provide you with the caloric value as well as a breakdown of the food group servings in the item.
Step 3
Ask for a nutritional fact sheet when visiting a restaurant. Because portion sizes and preparation techniques at restaurants are often different, restaurants must be able to provide caloric values to their customers upon request.
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