Download Smart Servings Snack Food Label Discovery

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Smart Servings
Snack Food Label Discovery
Learning to discover smart servings can be challenging! Reading food labels
gives helpful information for balanced eating. Try these family activities that
will help with making healthier snack food choices and portion decisions.
At Home - Know Your Serving Size
Have your family select their favorite packaged snack choices from the cupboards
or refrigerator.
Ask
each member to:
• Look at the nutrition facts label on the package and locate the serving size information.
• Measure the suggested serving amount on a plate.
• Are they surprised at the amount? How much do they choose as a serving in
comparison? IF more, consider that a lesser amount is likely to be just as satisfying.
Shopping Challenge
Take your family to the grocery store and visit the snack food aisle. Have each family
member locate their favorite packaged snack foods.
• Using the nutrition facts label on the packages, compare the sugar content of each snack food. Which food choices are highest and lowest in sugar? Which snack would be a healthier choice? (snack with least sugar)
• Now compare the total fat content of each of the snack foods. Which food choices
are highest and lowest in total fat? Which snack would be a healthier choice?
(snack with least fat)
• Purchase the “healthier” snack choices that your family discovers.
Discover more about food labels at this Web resource:
How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label
(http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/ConsumerInformation/
ucm078889.htm) – Information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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