Labels! Do you read them?

MariaMariaM
MariaMariaM Posts: 1,322 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I am curious to see what type of information is important to you when reading labels. Twice this weekend I was told at different stores a version of the following: "Why are you looking in the back?! You shouldn't look at the calories, just eat it! or You look to skinny and need to eat something so you shouldn't worry if it is bad for you" . This has happened in the past too. I then explained my reason for reading labels and all I get is a blank stare. Here are my reasons for reading labels:

1) Ingredients: I like natural and preferably organic products so I scan the list of ingredients to see if there is anything I don't like.
2) Quality of carbs and fats. I am not afraid of either carbs or fats but I want to make sure they are the good quality type (whole grains, omega 3, etc)
3) Carb to protein ratio.

Now is your turn, why do you read them. If you don't, why not? Thanks
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Replies

  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    I removed the label off my matress
  • shutterbug282
    shutterbug282 Posts: 588 Member
    I read them, a lot of the time things you think are healthy have a lot of sugar and fat content in them. I like to see the nutrionial information. :)
    I've never had anyone ask me why I'm looking at label though. No-ones ever bothered me about it :)
  • DaphneAtx
    DaphneAtx Posts: 153
    I'm pretty sure everyone in here reads labels or we wouldn't know what we're eating.
  • sanndandi
    sanndandi Posts: 300 Member
    I read labels for sure, how else can i be an informed consumer? I don't like to fall for any marketing gimmicks and reading the labels is pretty much the only way to determine for myself if that's something I wanna be eating (or feeding my family).
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    I removed the label off my matress

    Have fun in prison, renegade.
  • sportybrewerschick
    sportybrewerschick Posts: 170 Member
    ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS! ..that doesn't mean i always resist either! :( unfortunately..
  • hkclaire
    hkclaire Posts: 17
    I read every single label for ingredients as my family has nut allergies. (My daughter used to be allergic to egg & dairy too, so this was incredibly hard!)
    I also read them to find out what exactly is in the food I'm eating and feeding my family. My little ones react to certain additives, and I like to know what I am putting into our bodies. My motto - if you don't know what the ingredient (or number) is, then don't buy it. The less ingredients in a food the better!
  • CamillaBeaumont
    CamillaBeaumont Posts: 56 Member
    I always read labels, mostly I am looking at ingredients b/c like the OP I prefer more natural and organic products wherever possible. I especially check what sweeteners have been added so I can avoid artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup. Finally I look at the calories in a serving, if it's ridiculously high in calories then I usually won't get it.

    I don't pay attention to carbs / fat / protein content for the most part, although depending on the product I do check fiber content as my daughter requires high fiber intake.
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    I read labels - every label, every time. I look for calorie count, protein, carb, sugar, fiber, and fats. I try to avoid trans fats and high sugar, as well as processed carbs.
  • Jaulen
    Jaulen Posts: 468 Member
    I read labels, mainly for the ingredients. And what a serving size is.
    Corn syrup in apple sauce???? WTH?
    That's why I started making and canning my own.
  • Rynatat
    Rynatat Posts: 807 Member
    I am a label *kitten* if there was one! I have Celiacs (born with it) along with soy & lactose intollerance. My husband is allergic to soy, coconut & any shellfish. If I don't read labels one of us could wind up in the hospital or worse. I really don't mind the strange stares at local public stores, I'm used to them after years of having to live like this: I worry more for those who have the 'grab & go' technique & if they'll live a happy, fruitful & healthy life!

    With that said, I also stick to natural foods (organic mostly): if it is something that is premade it MUST be labeled with the non-GMO stamp and I need to understand & know ALL the ingredients without looking them up. My husband is now in on the same lifestyle as me (he dropped 10lbs of toxins in 2 weeks eating clean & sleeps through the night now, yea, he's decided to be healthy for life!).

    I worry a little about the carbs & sugars, though as long as I'm working out my body knows to use them for energy & to keep me functioning through the day (no caffeine or energy drinks), I limit bad fats (love my nuts & avocados & don't worry about that too much) & look for high protein options or add-ins.
    If one eats "clean", calories typically stay low so I am finding I don't worry as much about caloric content as much as where it is coming from. And natural energy levels are through the roof, so I also know I'm getting my metabolism up to speed to function the way it is supposed to.
  • obwize
    obwize Posts: 102
    The only thing I purchase that has a label is bread. And then I usually don't read the label because the only bread I get is either Ezekiel or sourdough baguette. But all other food comes into my home raw. And I really need to get around to learning how to make sourdough bread so I don't need to purchase that either.
  • liesevanlingen
    liesevanlingen Posts: 508 Member
    Of course I read labels. I need to know what I'm eating. But I've never had anybody bug me about it. That is so incredibly ignorant! I'd tell them to mind their own darn business.
  • craigineson
    craigineson Posts: 88 Member
    I read labels and keep them if I eat something while I'm out so I can track it later.

    For me, I'm looking for:
    - Carbs & Fibre: I really want to see less than 10g (net) carbs in the whole serving.
    - Fat: I want it high, I don't care what kind as long as it's not hydrogenated.
    - Protein: I want it high
    - Ingredients: I'm concerned about hydrogenated fats, aspartame, sugar alcohols, MSG, and HFCS.

    That's it for me :)
  • RobynMWilson
    RobynMWilson Posts: 1,540 Member
    I removed the label off my matress

    Have fun in prison, renegade.

    ^^^^ hahahaha!! I was thinking the same thing!
  • RobynMWilson
    RobynMWilson Posts: 1,540 Member
    I read labels and keep them if I eat something while I'm out so I can track it later.

    For me, I'm looking for:
    - Carbs & Fibre: I really want to see less than 10g (net) carbs in the whole serving.
    - Fat: I want it high, I don't care what kind as long as it's not hydrogenated.
    - Protein: I want it high
    - Ingredients: I'm concerned about hydrogenated fats, aspartame, sugar alcohols, MSG, and HFCS.

    That's it for me :)

    The cat in your profile pic is the most famous cat on FB right now...he's not yours, is he?
  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
    It sort of depends on the product. I check anything from the ingredients, fiber count, protein count, etc. Fiber and protein are probably the two most checked. Occasionally I look at carbs and fat too. I usually check the serving sizes as well, especially on prepackaged meals. Nothing worse than a "meal for one" have 1.5-2 servings in it.
  • atamrowski
    atamrowski Posts: 417 Member
    I read labels but might not be really reading the most important. At a glance, I look at:

    -Calories per serving
    -Servings per container
    -First 3 ingredients to check to see what they constitute. Even though I'm not on a gluten-free diet, I check to see if it's gluten free.
    -I do not try to buy anything with hydrogenated oils, trans fats, enriched flour listed as any of the first ingredients (unless it's take out then I can't really seem to monitor).

    For the most part, I keep an eye on calories and servings per container.
  • atamrowski
    atamrowski Posts: 417 Member
    bump
  • MariaMariaM
    MariaMariaM Posts: 1,322 Member
    With that said, I also stick to natural foods (organic mostly): if it is something that is premade it MUST be labeled with the non-GMO stamp and I need to understand & know ALL the ingredients without looking them up.

    This is very important to me too.
  • alaskaang
    alaskaang Posts: 493 Member
    Absolutely! I started reading labels when I was pregnant with my daughter 22 years ago and never stopped. I want to know what the ingredents are. One, I want to buy a quality product rather than something that is just filler. And two, there are certain things that I avoid. It used to be just MSG, HFCS and hydrogenated oils, but now because of allergies I have to be very careful.

    What does being thin have to do with it? People are ridculous and should mind their own damn business.
  • spangey13
    spangey13 Posts: 294
    I read them to make sure, or to check:

    Calories per 100g
    where it is made
    Bacon is free range and made in NZ
    Eggs are free range
    No MSG in stuff like sauces or chips (exception = curly fries)
    Peanut butter, no added salt
    Jam, percentage of fruit vs sugar
    Tinned products = tins made in NZ (apparently some countries have shoddy regulations around tins)

    I think that's generally it.
  • vanguardfitness
    vanguardfitness Posts: 720 Member
    The ingredients list is what I read first. Then the macros ratio after
  • craigineson
    craigineson Posts: 88 Member
    The cat in your profile pic is the most famous cat on FB right now...he's not yours, is he?

    Tardar sauce is, unfortunately, not my cat.

    However, I love him and his sad little face. He is my hero.
  • sun33082
    sun33082 Posts: 416 Member
    I read labels all the time. For about every 3 items I pick up, only 1 ends up in my cart. There are many reasons why :)
  • afoz1990
    afoz1990 Posts: 89 Member
    Lactose Intolerance & a Shellfish allergy require me to read labels! So many random things are "made in a factory that also contains shell fish" and I don't want to run the risk of landing in the ER or dead! Just not worth it! I don't care about the weird looks I'm bettering myself and keeping myself safe!
  • MariaMariaM
    MariaMariaM Posts: 1,322 Member


    What does being thin have to do with it? People are ridculous and should mind their own damn business.

    When people look at me, they think I am reading the labels because I am looking at the calories and don't want to eat much. When I say, I don't care about the calories but the ingredient list sometimes I get the "It might not be good for you but is delicious" It never happens at places like whole foods or other natural grocers.
  • Firefox7275
    Firefox7275 Posts: 2,040 Member
    Most of what I purchase at present doesn't have an ingredients list so no need to read the back - vegetables, fruit, plain meat, eggs etc. Everything else I read the ingredients and the fat content (old habits die hard!).
  • hen1946
    hen1946 Posts: 60 Member
    liese and tulips must be Dutch? Like me originally?
  • pyrowill
    pyrowill Posts: 1,163 Member
    I don't see why someone at a store feels its their business to comment why you are easing the back of anything. Allergies are everywhere. I'd have told them exactly where to go.

    And yes i read labels, it's going into your body!

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