Nutrition Facts labels can be difficult to read and confusing for all ages. Many times, reading a nutrition label can create more questions than answers. Should I pay attention to the number of grams or the % daily value? What are all of these ingredients? If adults struggle to understand nutrition labels, there’s a good chance kids do too. It is important, however, for kids to understand what their food is comprised of to practice responsible decision making. You can start by simplifying the information on nutrition labels to teach children to identify key nutrients that are common in nutrient-rich foods.
Nutrition Facts labels have a lot of information on them and can be overwhelming. Make it simple by focusing on:
At home:
Get your kids comfortable with reading the label. Practice on the cereal box at home and on products at the grocery store, for example. Ask questions like “How many calories are in a serving? “Does this food have fiber in it?” to familiarize them with the label and nutrition lingo.
At school:
When choosing your serving consider what a balanced plate might look like. How many vegetables can you fit on half your plate? How does this compare to the serving? Were you still hungry after consuming the serving, were you satisfied, or too full? Encourage children to take their time and reflect on their state of hunger and satiety.
Check out the vitamins and minerals content. A food is considered a “good source” of that vitamin or mineral if it has 10% or more of it.
The first ingredient on the ingredient list has the largest amount. Pay attention to the kind of ingredients, too. If you don’t recognize an ingredient look it up! What benefits might this ingredient provide for product safety or health?
Recruit a registered dietitian to teach a lesson on how to read the label.
Avoid labeling nutrition labels as “good” or “bad”, “healthy” or “unhealthy” in order to foster healthy relationships with all food. All foods provide energy. Focus on things like fast acting and slow acting carbs, and how this affects energy levels or immune boosting vitamins in certain fruits and vegetables. Children will be able to learn and practice responsible decision making when it comes to food choice by choosing what they need and when to fuel their bodies!
Categories: Nutrition & Healthy Eating, At Home, At School, Digital Resource
