Nutrition labels are not always straight forward. Sometimes, it is important to look carefully at a variety of pieces of information on the nutrition label and interpret them. If you are adhering to a reduced-calorie diet, the ability to read and properly interpret nutrition labels is crucial. This may take time, but with practice you can successfully pick up any item and understand the information listed on its nutrition label.
Step 1
Note the serving size listed near the top of the nutrition label. For example, the serving size of a soft drink is commonly 8 oz.
Step 2
Look at the amount of calories listed on the nutrition label. This is the amount of calories in one serving. For example, your soft drink may have 100 calories per serving, which is commonly 8 oz.
Step 3
Note how many servings are in each package. This information is usually located near the top of the nutrition label. This is important in determining how many calories are in the total package.
Step 4
Multiply the number of calories in each serving with the number of servings in the package to determine the total number of calories in the package. For example, if you have a 20 oz. soft drink bottle which contains 2 1/2 servings at 100 calories per serving, you may be shocked to discover that each soft drink bottle contains 250 calories.
Things You'll Need
- Nutrition label
- Calculator
References
- "Contemporary Nutrition"; Gordon M. Wardlaw and Anne M. Smith; 2007
- "Williams' Basic Nutrition and Diet Therapy"; Staci Nix; 2005
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