05 Aug How to Read a Nutrition Label
At Total Vending, we stock our markets with both traditional and healthy options, including fresh salads, sandwiches and fruit, complete with nutritional information to help everyone make informed snacking decisions.
Although nutritional information is available on our products, understanding exactly what to look for on the label can sometimes feel like a daunting task. The following information is intended to make nutrition label reading easier so you can make quick and informed food and beverage choices at our markets!
Starting at the top of the label you will see the number of servings per container and the serving size. Pay close attention to how many servings are in the container since this number influences the total number of calories and other nutritional factors on the sheet. For instance, if there are three servings in a bag, you will have to multiply each nutrition factor by three to get the total in each bag.
Next listed on the label are the calories per serving. Calories are a unit of energy that help our body function. Although everyone’s caloric needs are different, it is recommended that the average person should eat around 2,000 calories a day to maintain their weight.
Over on the right-hand side of the label are the percent daily values. These values allow you to see at a glance what percentage of each nutrition factor you get per serving. These daily values are a guide to what the average person consuming 2,000 calories might eat in a day. Typically, you should aim low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium and aim high in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
Understanding key nutrients is another important factor when reading a nutrition label. Remember that not all fats are bad. For example, nuts are high in fat and can be part of a healthy diet. When looking at sugar content, total sugar includes both natural and added sugar. View the number of added sugars to compare how much natural verses added sugar is in the product. Limiting added sugar is recommended. Beneficial nutrients to look for include calcium, fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium and vitamins A, C, D and E.
Remember that nutrition labels are there to guide you, not to control everything you eat. It is important to be aware of what we are consuming, but that does not mean we have to limit ourselves to only items with perfect nutrition labels. We hope that this information will support informed snacking decisions and overall a happier, healthier workforce.
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