Please don't be offended by my use of the word fat. I'm taking it back.
I watch fitness reality shows, like the Biggest Loser. I use the word "fitness" loosely. I get sucked in. I know they are technically unhealthy and not teaching any of these people long term goals and apparently are really crappy to the contestants. But what always surprises me is when they have to teach them to read a nutrition label. It happens in actual reality too. I had a diabetic co worker tell me he could eat the whole bag of cheese puffs if he wanted, because it only had 11 grams of carbohydrates. Ummm okay buddy. If when you say "the whole bag" you mean "eight" then, yeah, go to town man.
I am sure that all you super smart readers know how to read a nutritional label so you can pass this on to your silly friends.
1. Read the serving amount. In above example it's 1 oz. About 10 chips. The whole bag contains 10 servings.
2. The amount per serving listings is for just one serving. Not the whole thing. So for these chips. If you eat 10 chips that's 120 calories. If you're not paying attention and eat the whole of the salty greasy goodness you will have eaten 10 servings. 120 x 10 is 1200 calories. Holy bejesus.
3. The ingredients are listed in order of amount. So this bag is made up of mostly dehydrated potatoes. So if the first ingredient is "ombalyophinine" (oh yeah i made that word up. Sounded smart didn't I? ) then it's probably not good for you.
4. And of course being diabetic, my main concern is the amount of carbs. Which is a lot, even for just one serving.
So a recap. The serving size is important, the whole bag is not 120 calories, but 1200. Don't eat anything you can't pronounce and lastly potato chips are bad for you.
Any questions?
Do you always look at the labels of what you eat? Or would you rather not know?
I always, always, ALWAYS read the label. The serving size can be super dangerous!
ReplyDeleteDepends, if I want to treat myself I'd often rather not know. But, I'm a sucker so I usually look anyways. I hate serving sizes! They are so unrealistic! Like a lot of cereals and ice cream! Some ice cream servings are 240 calories for 1/2 cup! So sad!
ReplyDeleteI almost always look at labels. I prefer to make my food so I know what's in it.
ReplyDeleteThere are certain things I'd rather not know, for instance, I'm making a cheesecake right now, and I realize its bad for me. I just don't care.
Most of the time, yes, I do look at the nutrition labels. However, I do have my moments...or what I refer to as my "cheat" meals where I truly do not care and I'd rather not know.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great post! Stopped by from SITS!
I do read labels. I don't eat anything with artificial sweetener or "light" or "low fat". Moderation with real foods is key. :-)
ReplyDeleteGotta admit, I'm on that I'd-rather-not-know kick.
ReplyDeleteNo, that's not right. I'm actually in that Okay-I-know-but-I'm-in-denial stage.
This is the person who used to choose grapefruit over a banana to save 40 calories. Tsk, tsk, what happened to me?
I'm a counter, a reader, a documenter. I read every label, write down every single calorie and then fixate about them. Sick, I know.
ReplyDelete