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🏷 We Are What We Eat! Know What You Are Eating! Sharing Information About Food Labels

Ceriusly1
Ceriusly1 Posts: 6,306 Member
in Social Groups
Please use this space to ask questions or share insight about the Nutrition Facts Labels on your foods.

Replies

  • aalley5
    aalley5 Posts: 3,752 Member
    Good morning!

    Labels and what I learned: I looked up label reading again I remember back around 2016 or so there were no added sugars on the nutrition labels or very few, and now they are! That's wonderful news. I like that I am able to see what sugar additives are in what I'm eating.
    Sugar:
    There is now a percentage for the added sugar. The added sugar is included in the number of grams of total sugars. The percentage of added sugar is represented in the percentage.
  • Dianedoessmiles1
    Dianedoessmiles1 Posts: 13,983 Member
    edited August 28
    I've been looking at the various additives at one point I had thought "Oh they must be okay in a limited amount." Now I question if they are OKAY FOR ME! I've been turning around going back to what I've known for a long time to eat like I did as a child. HOME COOKING!! And not processed food. I now cook in a larger batch, so I can put them into the freezer for the days I am either not well, or in a hurry.
    @Tabatha_Cain here's a video I thought you'd be interested in regarding reading labels and balancing macros (I know you wanted to know for protein which is a part of this understanding)
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10922607/we-are-what-we-eat-know-what-you-are-eating-sharing-information-about-food-labels#latest
  • aalley5
    aalley5 Posts: 3,752 Member
    edited August 28
    Another thing I've learned about nutrition labels is the protein listing. I needed more protein while healing. Unfortunately, I was eating too many calories, by using this little trick it has helped me stay in my calorie range while getting enough protein.
    Just by adding a zero to the protein amount on the food label, if it is higher than the calories, then it's not a good protein choice. Amanda Nighbert talks about her trick using food labels on you tube.
    https://youtu.be/ZXNLxjyOfw0?si=T6dJ9T4PlY85MuKv
    @tabatha, sodium amounts, you want to keep them as low as possible. That's one reason I need to cut out most chips.
    Thanks @ceri for adding this thread! We can learn so much more about labels from each other.
    @Dianedoessmiles1 - I use food labels to find those nasty food additives also. Did you know that most food has appetite stimulants? There is a video about that too! lol
  • Ceriusly1
    Ceriusly1 Posts: 6,306 Member
    @aalley5 Thanks for your nudge. I will add a thread for the new LTGL through the end of the challenge. This is something Lynn has done in the past so we will see where everyone is for Fall.

    It's great to see you back with us again! Praying you are well and healed!

    BTW, working for Penn State teaching Nutrition and in 14 years I never heard of that protein trick.
  • p21usa
    p21usa Posts: 553 Member
    @aalley5 I watched the video because I was confused by your statement "if it is higher than the calories, then it's not a good protein choice." I think you have it backwards. If, after adding the zero to the grams of protein, the number is HIGHER than the calories/serving, it IS A GOOD choice. In the video, she uses a protein bar and cottage cheese as examples. Cottage cheese: 14 grams of protein for 80 calories vs protein bar which is 10 grams of protein for 210 calories. adding the zero's you get 140:80 and 100:210. The cottage cheese is MORE protein dense and therefore a better choice. In summary, if you add a zero to protein and it is higher than the calories, it IS a good protein choice.
  • aalley5
    aalley5 Posts: 3,752 Member
    edited August 28
    @p21usa - Awe, thank you for that catch!
    Yes, that's what I thought I said. You're right. I said it backwards! Does that count as dyslexia :D ? I like that a lot better!
  • Dianedoessmiles1
    Dianedoessmiles1 Posts: 13,983 Member
    From yesterday this was EYE OPENING!!
    It also talks about food from where! I HAD NOT thought of reading that part!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17ySo3Lm8Hw
  • aalley5
    aalley5 Posts: 3,752 Member
    Did you ever read a soup can nutrition label? Tons and way too many sodium grams! The soup I was about to eat has 640 mg in one cup! In my opinion, that's way to much. May as well make it from scratch and freeze some. So I did that.
  • Dianedoessmiles1
    Dianedoessmiles1 Posts: 13,983 Member
    @Ceriusly1 it's extremely rare I now eat canned soup because of the sodium. Shocking! I just checked a serving of Pacific Organic Butternut squash soup. YO! It came in at 500 mgs a cup! I'm going to join you and start making my own soup. That way I can make it low calorie.

    Thanks to @Catwmncat and @Katiecondy1 (PS4L) who have shared with me two ingredients to make bread or rolls I am going to start doing that too.

    Curious for others with reading the label and the research that anybody had done has this caused you to want to make changes?
  • p21usa
    p21usa Posts: 553 Member
    Reading about protein dense vs. calorie dense on labels has made me rethink a lot of my snacking. Foods that I thought were good choices, like chick pea chips, aren’t really that great of a protein source. And watch out for trail mixes, too!
  • Dianedoessmiles1
    Dianedoessmiles1 Posts: 13,983 Member
    @p21usa , Oh this LTGL has me rethinking so many things such as what you are. Nice job and TY TY TY to all who are sharing.
    @Aalley5 OOPS it was you with the soup! Sorry, it's shocking how much sodium is in stuff. I need to get some cheesecloth and I'll attempt my first time making butternut squash soup which I ADORE! TY TY TY TY!

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