Nutrition Facts Panel

When putting together meals it is important to be able to understand nutrition labels. The nutrition facts panel/label provides information about the particular product and general nutritional information as well. Being able to decipher this information can help provide a healthy meal. The problem is nutrition facts are designed for adults. This doesn't mean that it still can't be useful when serving children you just have to be careful when evaluating the facts for a child. Below are some steps and tips to help one understand what to look for when checking the nutrition facts for children.

1. Examine the serving size of the product and the servings per container. Use this information to compare with the portion size being consumed. It's important to know that the serving size is does not mean that it is the recommended amount. It is given to allow you to know how much nutrients you are consuming based on the amount you eat. For example, if a person eats double that serving size then the nutritional intake will be doubled.

2. Check the total caloric intake and the calories from fat. This will help to monitor caloric intake.

3. Limit saturated fats, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium. Remember when consuming fats aim to consume monounsaturated and polyunsaturated.

4. Consume adequate amounts of dietary fiber. Recall recommendation for fiber from an early post.

5. The daily values footnote includes general information about nutrition not necessarily the product itself.

6. Percentage Daily Value. The percent daily value (DV) compares what nutrients are in the product’s serving size to what an adult should consume based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Since a child has different nutrient needs (in regards to amount) the percentage daily value would not be helpful.

However, another useful way to monitor the nutritional value is to check the ingredient list. Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. When checking the ingredient list avoid foods that have the following ingredients:
• Hydrogenated oil (partially hydrogenated oil)
• High fructose corn syrup
• Enriched and bleached flour

Tip: A general guideline to remember is one serving of food with 5% or less of the daily value is considered low and one serving of a food with 20% or more of the daily value is considered high.

Sources
Wikipedia. June 2011. Web 18 March 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutrition_facts_label>