The grochery store is full of lines of processed and pre-packaged foods. Food manufactures spend millions of dollars advertising products and researching market trends. Over the past 10 years, studies suggest that more consumers are buying organic products and healthier alternatives to popular high fat and calorie foods. This means that food manufactures are 
producing more products for a much healthier society.
Many Holistic Nutritionists agree that many, “so-called healthy “, food labels can be mis-leading. These days’ food packages claim promises like, “25% less fat than the original”and, “now made with whole grains”. How can the average consumer really know if what they are buying lives up to the promise on the label? The truth is- you don’t.
The easiest way to understand how healthy a processed food product is is to learn how to read food labels correctly. Here are some tips to remember next time your buying groceries.
- Remember to read the ingredients list, not just the nutritional label. In general the fewer ingredients a product has the healthier and less processed it is.
- Read the serving size, which is located at the top of the food label. If you’re watching your weight, eat the recommended serving size and no more.
- Calories are important, but not the only thing to look for. It is also important to read the: fat grams, sodium, cholesterol, sugar, and fibre.
- The protein and carbohydrate numbers are also important, especially if you follow a weight reduction program.
- All food labels have nutrient breakdowns for vitamins and minerals. You should aim to eat processed foods which contain a high number and percentage of vitamins and minerals.
Use these tips to help make grocery shopping a more enjoyable experience. Navigate yourself around the outside of the store avoiding the middle isles as much as possible. Take a list and leave the kids at home if possible. Compare labels of different products and aim to pick the most nutritious. After all- the benefits of healthy living are worth the extra effort!