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

froeschli · August 2012

yup, flip, read, put it back on the shelf. pick it back up, think it over, put it back, then grab it and toss it in the basket.

i usually skip to sugar, fibre and protein. will pick the product with higher protein count or lower sugar when comparing similar items...

gracieabem · August 2012

I generally look at everything on the label now that I think about it. Fat (types and amount) and sodium are probably the biggest for me at the moment, but I also like to keep track of added sugars, so that's why reading the ingredients is pretty important. Sometimes the reason I'll chose one product over another is protein or fibre content. Honestly, calories are not the biggest thing for me, although I do obviously track them. But I'd miss out on heaps of good food if I were only interested in calories.

1995johnson · August 2012

Yes I do, I honestly look up the protien and the fat but that is bout it.

stephirocks2012 · August 2012

Yes! I read the nutrition labels FOR SURE I read the labels and the first three ingredients. I hardly ever purchase prepackaged foods though.

pberta · August 2012

Yes especially when I am buying something new.

texasgardnr · August 2012

Yes, Since joining MFP and recording all my food I'm especially looking at sodium (to consume less), carbs (so not to give in to every craving b/c I gravitate toward carbs when I'm craving or not being vigilant), protein and fiber (to increase).

I used to only look at calories (and usually not even that :glasses: )

Good topic :-)

LindaSue222 · August 2012

Yes, absolutely. It used to drive my 21 year old daughter crazy a few years ago, but now she does exactly the same thing! We need to be cognizant of what we are putting in our bodies. Always.

SixCatFaerie · August 2012

Constantly! Husband thinks I'm nuts, but he appreciates it too. Also helps tremendously when using my food scale. :bigsmile:

JPDad · August 2012

I read everything. I am more concerned about the ingredient list.

ldrosophila · August 2012

Yes

It's what means the difference to me from a life of obesity or fitness

myfitnessval · August 2012

yes i do, its why i'm here. lol the first things i usually look for are protein, fiber, and calorie counts. then lastly, carbs and sodium.

TheVimFuego · August 2012

Yup, the ingredients list as well.

I tend to stick to eating the same stuff and most of that isn't processed so it's a rare thing these days.

Everythin2Lose · August 2012

Hahaha me and a work collegue played a game at lunch and "biscuits/crispbread" I could buy for lunches- we had about 10 options and compared calories, sodium and what the hell was in them (eg.. I chose a wholemeal product over the 'light' version purely because of the contents of the biscuit itself, plus it looked yummier than a boring white salada type biscuit and only 50kj difference!)

Trechechus · August 2012

Yes

jenbison · August 2012

Yes, I read nutrition labels and measure out my foods to the recommended serving size or more or less. I also read nutrition labels while shopping and try to avoid products with to much added sugar, sodium, hydrogenated oils, etc.

marvelscale · August 2012

Yeah, and I don't care if people look at me weird, I do it anyway :laugh:

In Trader Joe's I notice people looking at labels sometimes though.

meowchii · August 2012

I definitely do. Its a force of habit as a vegetarian and a person that does not eat high fructose corn syrup. I used to just pick up cans/boxes of food etc. and buy them and then I got home and read the label to find beef fat in coffee cakes or hfcs in kidney beans. Things I would never have thought would have been in thoes products so I did not check. I always read them now!

Jenny5977 · August 2012

Yes I do! I pay attention to the calories but also Sodium (I have to watch how much I eat due to swelling) and fiber.

amswanson3 · August 2012

All the time. It has become an obsession almost. I'm that person that stands in the grocery store with a few different products comparing the labels to make sure I get the best option.

Leeannboswell · August 2012

Are you kidding? Absolutely! Go for the most protein, least sodium, and fewest ingredients! Always! If I don't know what's in it, I don't eat it. It's very enlightening to compare the labels.

PS2CR · August 2012

Yes, I read the labels. That's how I realized today that the MFP barcode reading for Yoplait Light Nonfat Peach Harvest (6 oz. snack size) didn't match the label on the snack cup.

Snack cup says 100 calories; barcode printout said 90. Go figure.

Kenzietea2 · August 2012

obsessively.

NyxDominique · August 2012

Yes, and I definitely get weird looks at the food market I go to. A single 24 yr old woman comparing different brands of the same product to figure out which has more fiber or which has more protien... then debating which I need more of in my diet. etc etc

I know there have been times - mainly in the freezer isle - people actucally comment to me saying things like "you shouldn't keep opening and closes the doors" or "Can you move it along so we can get by". I know I live in a busy city, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't take 10 seconds to decide what I want to put into my body.

Honestly my boyfriends thinks I have slight ocd about what I buy, but he doesn't understand that we all can't have the perfect body without trying like he does (he is one of those lucky ones).

LishaCole · August 2012

I always check every label. I check sugar, fiber, and protein and the ingredients. I have been doing it since I was a child, ....but my shopping training did come from a lactose intolerant celiac diabetic mother. Haha.

InvidiaXII · August 2012

Yup, I read them all. Takes me quite a while to buy my food, but luckily I find grocery shopping oddly relaxing, so I don't mind. :happy:

airangel59 · August 2012

Yes indeed I do. Right now calories, carbs then check for fiber and sodium. Depends on how much of a rush I'm in and what the item is, for closer scrutiny (ingred list etc).