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

ElleBee615

Yes.

Drop_it_Like_Its_Hawt

I didn't before I started logging everything on MFP. Now I do it so often it drives my family a bit wonky. Takes a bit longer to grocery shop when I spend 15 minutes trying to find the lowest sodium sauces and such, but it makes a difference in the long run.

cmp_denver

Yep, I double my time in the grocery store but always read the labels, how else do you know what you're putting into your body? I've found things listed on labels that have made me NOT buy something that I would have bought in a heart-beat before.

AsellusReborn

I didn't use to, but I do now.

caraiselite

i have to. i watch my carbs very closely.
i even read them on things i've bought before to double check.

Drop_it_Like_Its_Hawt

I haven't done it so much when we eat out at restuarants though, because I still cringe at the idea of being "that person" with all the the high-maintenance order requests. But we almost never eat out, so that's rarely an issue.

PaBeany

Absolutely! If not only to check how many calories before I decide to buy.

Tex_Zen

yep, yes, I do. It is necessary component of being here. I have found that if I shop the veggie fruit and meat aisles there is so
much less to worry about. smile.

BrazenHarpy

Yes. If I can't find a label for something I'm eating, I go online and look up the calories and nutrition breakdown.

LorinaLynn

I didn't, but I do now. Kind of hard to accurately use this site without glancing at a label now and then, isn't it?

mamamc03

Thouroughly!! I skim for red flag ingredients like monosodium glutamate (MSG) and other yuckies!! FYI...read the label on cool whip....the main ingredient is OIL! eeeewww!! You want some grease with that pie! mmmhmmm....NOT

AmyBecky74

all the time, mostly for cal - carbs - fat

susiebear29

YES!!! it drives my boyfriend crazy!!! :noway:

tajmel

Constantly, both the ingredients and nutrition.

ohmykai

Hell Yes I do!!! I have to stay away from MSG!

Neeser926

Not only do I read them but I will compare two items right there in the supermarket aisle. Takes me three times as long to shop!

stormieweather

Yes. Everything I buy and put in my mouth or feed my family.

kobashi

I read them every time and compare ingredients as well as intake levels of various nutrients. I started doing this in the beginning and it has been a great weight loss tool.

mamamc03

I haven't done it so much when we eat out at restuarants though, because I still cringe at the idea of being "that person" with all the the high-maintenance order requests. But we almost never eat out, so that's rarely an issue.

Honey....BE THAT PERSON!!! It takes hardly any time to enter in different foods...it just looks like you are taking longer because you are looking @ your phone and not the menu. It is SOOOO worth it not to consume 10,000mg of sodium and 1,400 cals and 80mg of fat!! Seriously....look up Chili's or Applebee's nutritional facts (maybe not ^^ that bad, but geez, pretty close)

needamulligan

Absolutely!

lshaunessy

Always.

jjscholar

I always try to make sure that I read the food nutrition labels...

I do not like to buy anything without a nutrition label...

halips

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

This! Plus grocery shopping takes a lot longer now too. Though I don't know if it's really to his dismay, cause he likes my ever shrinking waitline and tighter behind

IPAfan5

Yes, only when buying new brands or new foods to make sure their nutrition matches up with my regular foods.

emilypurplefrog

Yes! I always look at the calories on something. I frequently look at the calories before I even purchase things from the store!

KMissyD

I do now. Not to mention its the reason I've put a lot of things back because of the label.

ravihira1892

Yep, all the time, don't even think about it.

Wenchilada

Always. I can't have certain ingredients, so I always scour the ingredient label at the very least. But lately, I am trying to pay more attention to the macronutrient balance in the foods I choose, as well as sodium content (although this one still eludes me... ugh, gotta have my salt). You can fit just about anything you like into a balanced diet, but being mindful of what all goes into those foods helps me plan out my days better. For instance, if I want potato chips some day (like today!), I find a brand and flavor (and package size) where the nutrition breakdown satisfies my cravings without completely sacking my goals, and I will choose more vegetables, lower sodium, and lean protein when supper time comes around tonight.

One of the things that really appealed to me when I was first checking out MFP was the bar code scanning feature in the iPhone app. It's not always 100% accurate, but it is generally close (and I can make corrections if I need to), and by scanning something in while I'm shopping, I can "try it on" and see how it would fit into my day.

ntlpeterson

I do. There are a lot of staple item that I buy that I know roughly the amount of calories of. Right now my husband and I are not eating corn syrup and so I've spent a little extra time at the store reading ingredients labels.

foxyxxx

I just try to buy as many basic ingredient products as possible.

But of course if I buy something prepared and packaged then I read the label religiously.