Diet

Understanding food labels

October 6, 2014

It should now be easier for you to find the most nutritious foods! At a glance, you can identify similar products that show stars. Among them, you choose one that suits you better by reading its list of ingredients and nutrition value table in three simple steps.

First, you must find the reference portion. Second, you must look at the percent daily value (% DV) and remember that 5% is a little and 15% is a lot. Third, choose a product that displays a percentage of about 15 % or more of the nutrients that you want to see in your diet (like fibre, vitamins and minerals) and displays a percentage of 5 % and less of the nutrients that you want to reduce in your food (like saturated and trans fats and sodium).

That's it! Now you can "decipher" the nutrition tables. I'm sure you can’t wait to go grocery shopping now!

Sources consulted in September 2013
Nathalie Regimbal
Nutritionnist

Nathalie Regimbal is a dietician-nutritionist and mother of 3 kids. She oversees Manger Futé, a team of people passionate about diet that empowers those who want to feed children healthily. To demystify nutrition and diet, Nathalie gives advice on the show La Cantine on Channel V. In addition to her collaboration with Mamanpourlavie.com, you can read her articles in several print and online magazines. Among others, she is a collaborator in nutrition for Yoopa and Célébrons magazines. To make meal time easier for families and initiate kids to cooking, Nathalie has worked hard to write inspiring books: the best-seller Du plaisir à bien manger… 80 recettes gagnantes pour les familles, and the Mandoline series of illustrated cook books for children, the latest one having just won the prestigious prize of the best French Healthy cooking book from the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2010. To help with meal preparation in daycare centres, the team of dieticians at Manger Futé offers classes and coaching. Manger Futé has also published the practical guides Élaborez rapidement un menu équilibré dans votre service de garde and Élaborez rapidement une politique alimentaire. Discover Nathalie Regimbal's books: Du plaisir à bien manger – 80 recettes gagnantes pour les familles Mandoline – J’ai ça dans le sang! Mandoline – Développe tes défenses naturelles!

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