Food labels are meant to make everything simple. Almost a traffic light of whether it is good for you (meaning you can have lots) or bad for you (meaning only in moderation). In theory it should give you enough information to make an informed decision.
The problem is that companies want to sell you their products, so they will stretch, bend and break the rules to take advantage of health-conscious consumers and are misleading shoppers into thinking their products are healthy.
Always read the nutrition information. If sugar is one of the top 4 ingredients then its likely to be bad for you if you have a lot of it. The same if it has more than 3% fat, or gives you more than 5% of your daily salt or calorie intake.
Here are some tips to keep yourself right:
- No Added Sugar – This DOES NOT mean there is no sugar. It could be naturally full of sugar. All it means is the manufacturer hasn’t added any more to the mix.
- Light/Lite – Don’t be fooled. Walkers Light crisps still contains 22% fat. Philadelphia ‘Extra Light’ spread still contains over 8% fat.
- Low Fat – The law does not state what can be considered as Low Fat. So read the label. Aim for 3g of fat per 100g (3%).
- Low Salt/Reduced Salt – Choosing low/reduced salt products doesn’t mean there is no salt. Again read the label. Aim for less than 5% of your daily salt intake per serving.
The most important thing is always to be reading the nutrition information, not the claims on the front of the products! If you need any advice please feel free to contact Beechcroft Retreats for guidance.
