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

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Replies

  • liljeanne
    liljeanne Posts: 9 Member
    It's my new obsession :) It's an education to be sure.... yogurt - 20 grams of sugar ??? I live now for what I call "free" condiments lol such as my salsa and hot sauce. Today I got all excited because I found a pocket flat bread with that I could actually bring home and stuff with lettuce , chicken, cheese and still stay within my goal. Laughing Cow cheese mmmm don't get me started :flowerforyou:
  • Angie__1MR
    Angie__1MR Posts: 388 Member
    ummm, YES!
  • megsi474
    megsi474 Posts: 370 Member
    These days, I always read labels. It's amazing what is advertised as healthy when the label says different. For me, it's not just calories, but the quality and cleanness of the ingredients.
  • Savemyshannon
    Savemyshannon Posts: 334 Member
    I never used to, but now I do. Now that I actually know how to read them and what to look for, I check everything at the grocery store before I even put it in my cart.
  • peles_fire
    peles_fire Posts: 501
    I always read them. When I eat out I also try to find places that provide their nutrition info too. I don't like surprises when I log my food on MFP!
  • jimgatewood
    jimgatewood Posts: 85 Member
    ALWAYS!!!!

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    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    i check for ingredients, i have intolerances to certain foods so i try to limit my intake of vinegar and other acidic foods.
    i obsess over calorie counting as well (ed) so i constantly check the labels to find the least caloric breads, pastas, etc.
    and i like finding stuff that doesn't have pure crap in it
  • trishaknighton
    trishaknighton Posts: 19
    most definitely
  • kali31337
    kali31337 Posts: 1,048 Member
    I do! Ever since I started making healthy choices, I vow not to put something in my body (unless its on my cheat day and then that goes flying out of the window) unless I look at the nutrition label. I eat much healthier now!
  • Faye_Anderson
    Faye_Anderson Posts: 1,495 Member
    I even scour the internet to find the actual nutritional information of things from the bakery/ take out etc, I like to know exactly what is going in then I can record it accurately
  • carrieo888
    carrieo888 Posts: 233 Member
    Yup! I particularly look for the dreaded high fructose corn syrup (which is in freakin' everything) so I can select only the products that don't have it (ok, I'm not always successful there, but we try!). I avoid breads & snacks that have enriched wheat flours. And like many other posters, I like to see how much is in a serving and how many calories that will "cost" me. I prefer to purchase "more bang for your buck" foods (I can eat a lot without damaging my calorie counts). I also prefer "real" ingredients (no fake fats, sugars, etc.), so if I can't pronounce it, I often (not always - sigh) won't buy it.
  • shorty35565
    shorty35565 Posts: 1,425 Member
    Yep, I even read the ingredients most of the time.
  • Pepperchild
    Pepperchild Posts: 25 Member
    Religiously
  • GrammyWhammy
    GrammyWhammy Posts: 484 Member
    You betcha! If I had read labels in the first place, I wouldn't be in the fix I am now. And, the reason I'm in better shape today than I was a year ago is because I know exactly what's going in my mouth, good or bad, and I am now accountable for it all.
  • sdai3
    sdai3 Posts: 28 Member
    Have since I became a vegetarian 10 years ago. I read the labels on other people's food too... i'm just curious. Sometimes I do it at work to little debbie cakes just to gross myself out that people actually eat those. Bleh.
  • SmallMimi
    SmallMimi Posts: 541 Member
    Yep, look at and read every label, even the ingredients.
  • 18guyhornet
    18guyhornet Posts: 195 Member
    Yep.
  • cindyjan
    cindyjan Posts: 3
    It depends on what kind of mood I am in when I go shopping, sometimes I do an sometimes I don't. If I am trying something new I will read the label.
  • MizzDoc
    MizzDoc Posts: 493 Member
    Yes, about 95% of time. I specifically look for calories in addition to the things I track here in MFP (sodium, sugar, protein, etc.).
    Doing this has helped me alot!

    I am not always as diligent in reading the ingredients (but am getting better). However, if the ingredients list takes up a huge section of the packaging I put it back, lol.
  • Booksandbeaches
    Booksandbeaches Posts: 1,791 Member
    Yes, I do. I've read the nutrition labels for a few years. I have food sensitivities so I have to read labels.
  • KeriW626
    KeriW626 Posts: 430
    Yes, hubby and I both do. But only since we started using MFP.
  • debussyschild
    debussyschild Posts: 804 Member
    Yep. As well as the ingredients. Too much information out there NOT to be fully informed these days.
  • rjesh
    rjesh Posts: 1 Member
    I started scanning in iphone/ipad since I started using MFP.
  • texastango
    texastango Posts: 309
    I'm EVOLVING BABY - SO LOOK OUT! (READ THE LABEL AND THE CONTENT AND THEN TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER)

    The Answer is NOW? HELL YEAH!
    I NEVER read labels before mid way into losing 80 lbs on MFP. Even then it was only to add fiber content and lower my net carbs.

    Over the past two month - nearly 6-8 months into maintaining - I know more about the labels on food than you really want to know. I now look to see how much saturated fat, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and what type of polyunsaturated fat. If the label doesn't tell me I look it up via Wiki or something else. I now could tell you more about what these compounds look like, what they do for you, and where to find them.

    EXAMPLE: I saw a recipe with Grapeseed oil. Never bought it before. I was curious. The label just told me what percentage the calories were from fat and how much saturated fat...but nothing else. SO I LOOKED IT UP - SMART PHONES ROCK!

    The label said 10 percent saturated fat. What the label didn't say was 72 percent N-6 polyunsaturated linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid) and 16 percent n-9 monounsaturated fatty acid - both good for you. Less than 1 percent was omega (n-3) polyunsaturated fat. Approximately 10 percent was saturated fat. Too much info? I don't think so now!

    When cooking for myself I now try and have a healthy balance in my meal if possible or throughout the week. If I'm going to ingest fat I make sure it's heart healthy and a mix of Monounsaturated fat or polyunsaturated n-3 (omega 3) if possible. So far these clearly have the best health benefits lower LDL and possibly raising HDL.

    That's real important since LDL carries with it inflammatory properties that injure vessel walls leading to vascular disease of many kinds.

    I can now tell you more about energy consumption, where it comes from, how many kJ/kgd (kilojules per kilogram per day) you can maximize out of fat burns, REEs (resting energy expenditures) etc etc. , GI (Glycemic indes) and GL (glycemic load).

    Labels still don't tell you if it contains cholesterol...what percent of HDL/LDL but studies show
    pay attention now....that the types of fats you put in your body will affect your HDL/LDL levels far more than the actual cholesterol you consume.

    So reading labels you have to know what to pay attention to and what matters. Labels don't go far enough right now.....

    So here is a real life real day example:

    POP CORN: Good diet snack right? Right....

    not to push a brand but Jolly Time 100 cal pop corn does not have Palm oil as an ingredient. Several of the other name brands (Pop Secret, Orville) do. Palm oil is a saturated fat. Those fats increase LDL (BAD CHOLESTEROL). If you have heart disease you avoid this in products.

    Now I'm not saying a little is going to kill you...but when you have three products that are similar and one is heart healthy and the other two are not as heart healthy...reading the label helps.

    For all the micronutrient people......I get cha.....The more you know...the more it helps....and as you learn you appreciate all the help you can get!
  • 1984LMN
    1984LMN Posts: 11 Member
    No. For me it more about eating things in moderation and I really prefer fresh fruits, vegetables and grilled meats. I do however weigh unhealthier options in my mind before purchasing them. I am not a big fan of high sodium chips and crackers, and I prefer healthier highend chocolates and desserts.

    My theory for myself is that I am going to eat and enjoy my food rather than making it all a math probem. And then enjoy working out to balance out the foods I do eat!
  • LynRhea
    LynRhea Posts: 15
    I sure do! I want to know calories, protein and fiber in everything I eat. Carbs from natural sources are fine, but I don't want added carbs. I probably make my husband crazy with my label reading but thats the way it goes!
  • myth4ever
    myth4ever Posts: 372
    Yup, if I can't pronounce it I don't buy it!
  • Eve23
    Eve23 Posts: 2,352 Member
    Yes, Yes and Yes

    Now I read them even more and am looking at products online before I head to the store to check them. Allergies, nutrition and what is in the food is important to know.
  • thankyou4thevenom
    thankyou4thevenom Posts: 1,581 Member
    yes
  • Pimpmonkey
    Pimpmonkey Posts: 566
    Yes, otherwise what good does it do? Without reading the label how much do you really know about it?
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