Poll of the Day: Do You Actually Read Nutrition Labels?

Altiv

Yeah, I don't buy anything without reading it, even if it's not for me or I'm just curious

SmartAlec03211988

Hell yes, I am not buying something until I look at that label.

Vincentsz

Yes!

birdieaz

Yes and it drives anyone shopping with me nuts.

xYumzx

I can seriously be in the store for over an hour picking up 5 things because im reading labels... my label reading has ventured into none food items now... FML lol

vanessa40

I always do and what bothers me the most is the serving sizes. Nobody eats a half a can of soup and the drink packets say there are two servings. Right like i am going to put half a packet of drink mix in my water. Please ....

imlik

YES! I'm careful about sodium and watchful for high fructose corn syrup, or lots of sugar in low fat items, and it's hidden in the weirdest places sometimes. I generally just skim for calories, sodium, sugars and protein

NAcetoLang

YES!!! AND I taught my 14 year old son to do the same- when choosing between two products, he holds one and I the other in order to see which is "best".

mellabyte

Absolutely. (It annoys my boyfriend sometimes. ^_^)

If I can help it, I want to know what I'm eating. I used to just read calories and carbs. Now, in addition, I also check out sodium, saturated fats, and scan ingredients lists to see what's hidden in my food.

pdj1220

Absolutely. I look for a variety of things, but the deal breaker if I am comparing like products is usually sodium.

This is it for me. I picked up some frozen, skinless chicken breasts the other day. When I logged them, 660 mg sodium for 4 ounces.

missiebriggs

Oh ya! Always looking at the label. My family gets irritated at me sometimes because I'm always comparing things and reading the labels which does take time but worth it.

Cindy873

I sure do! And it's depressing as hell. Do you know how much garbage is in processed foods?? Makes you feel like you need to start your own farm if you want to eat healthy. :ohwell:

rowyourboat

Considering my husband just had a heart attack...every....single....thing. It takes me about 2 hours to grocery shop now, looking for the most heart healthy item I'm looking for.

sedechenne

Yes I do, however I recently discovered an interesting way to shop at the grocery store. As much as possible don't go down the aisles, stay on the outside ring of the store. At most stores this is where the fruits, vegatables, dairy, and meats are. This cuts down on the amount of processed food you eat (and means you read a lot less labels). I was also amazed at how fast shopping becomes when you do this (and I hate grocery shopping).

SyStEmPhReAk

#allthedamntime

bcattoes

Yes, I read nutrition labels. And the ingredients, since the serviing size can be set low to make something such as trans fat round to zero when a normal serviing would be more than what is on the label. I do get a little lax about it with foods I routinely buy. I was recently surprised to find that the calcium in a product had dropped even though the label had not changed. :grumble:

I do not always look up the calorie counts to see if what is in MFP is accurate. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. It just depends on my mood and how busy I am.

matmismel

Yep, on every item that has a label. To be honest normally I am just looking for the serving size and calories, but lately I have been trying to look at sugar too...it is EVERYWHERE!

sheleen302

Not only do I read labels, I find them interesting. Weird I know.

I'm with you here--I find it interesting, and am appalled at the misleading that manufacturers do to disguise the calorie count in servings, the packaging is very misleading. Another thing, take a look at a 1/2 gallon of something--you will find that although they look the same size, often they are really only 60 oz, not 64. Manufacturers get away with misleading all the time.

mommasox

YES! I read every label unless it is something I buy on a regular basis. I focus mostly on calories, serving size, carbs, sugars, fat, protien, sodium, and fiber. I also will take a quick look at the ingrediants.

My daughter hates it when I am looking for new things because it takes me so long to decide.

Monnietron

I do. I'm so bad I point out to people things like, "you do realize there are 41 grams of carbs, which is all sugar, in that one lousy can of soda!"

ValerieMartini2Olives

I'd say about 90% of the time.

MelStren

Time to 'fess up: We all know that it's important to be aware about what we're feeding our bodies, but do you actually take the time to read nutrition labels, look up calorie counts, and more?

Yes. I do. Not only am I concerned about calorie counts and fat content but I have several food sensitivities and labels are very important to me.

anewleaf2011

I've been a label reader for several years and have put back many an item after seeing the ick it had to offer. I've become even worse now that I'm lactose intolerant. Milk is in so many things that you wouldn't even think of, like fries for instance. It's ok though. Makes me grab a sack of potatoes and bake my own. Much healthier that way anyway.

mangozulu

Yes:happy:

gracieabem

I'll confess that sometimes I don't. For example, I'd buy a can of salmon thinking it was the same as any other salmon and then later discover it got more of this or that and it isn't the same. I've actually had a friend on here point out a massive difference in brands that I never noticed (in terms of calories, not so much anything that I didn't want to eat!)

I can too easily fall into a trap of thinking that the same type of food will be the same, when it's not.

I do make better efforts to read labels now, but I also have a fairly good idea in general so that if I'm in a hurry I'll just stick with what I know. I haven't come across any truly nasty surprises. Yeah sure, some things are higher calorie than others, but if I'm not sure if something is worth it health wise, it's bound to be something that I will check the label for - nutrition and ingredients.

So I'd say that I check labels about 80% of the time.

marthathebear

Yes!

BeetleChe13

I can't hardly pick up any food and put it in my mouth without reading the nutrition label first. It's getting myself to care about what that label says that's the issue. It has to be pretty scary to keep me from eating something once I've made up my mind to eat it.

Eisskween

I read them religiously, to the point where I'm kind of obsessive about it. LOL

blesssedmomof4

Absolutely, much to my boyfriend's dismay. I also calorie count at restaurants and take forever to order

^^^This. My husband has learned to just sit and wait because if I don't know from their website what I want, I look it all up before ordering! I also enter everything before I take my first bite.

bipsqueen

Yes I definitely read the labels, and for unlabeled fruits, veggies and meats, I look it up on my phone! I'm very concerned about calories, sugar and carbs!