Can reading a nutrition label actually help you eat healthier?
I’ve seen a lot of people get really obsessive over counting calories and I don’t think that’s really helpful for a long-term healthy diet.
It’s been a while since I graduated from college with a nutrition degree and I wanted to brush up on the facts.
In this short article, you’ll find:
- What nutrients to look out for- which nutrients should be high, which should be low?
- How reading a nutrition label can improve your diet and give you the sense of control you want in your healthy lifestyle
- How to look beyond calories and see how other nutrients can positively or negatively affect your health
- A new confidence to purchase the best foods for your diet
Let’s start with the sources we’ll be comparing- the Sausage McMuffin with Egg from McDonald’s and a Homemade Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bowl.
Below you’ll find the original nutritional data. The McDonalds nutrition fact label is straight from the McDonald’s website.
Then, I’ll compare them side by side so you can see them more clearly.
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Nutritional Information for the
Sausage McMuffin® with Egg
Nutritional Information for the
Homemade Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 apple (cored and diced)
- ½ tsp. Cinnamon
- 1-2 tsp. Honey or maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp. vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
- 1 Tbsp. walnuts
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So below, are the nutrition facts for the two breakfast foods- EggMcMuffin on the left and the Oatmeal on the right.
So, what is important to look at when you look at a nutrition label?
Sausage McMuffin® with Egg |
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal |
|
Calories: |
480 Cal. |
540 Cal. |
Total Fat: |
31g (40% DV) |
12.9 (17% DV) |
Saturated Fat: |
12g (62% DV) |
3g (15% DV) |
Cholesterol: |
280mg (93% DV) |
20mg (7% DV) |
Sodium: |
830mg (36% DV) |
114mg (5%DV) |
Dietary Fiber: |
2g (7% DV) |
12.6g (45% DV) |
Total Sugars: |
2g |
36.6g |
Protein |
20g |
32.2g |
Vitamin D: |
(15% DV) |
(0% DV) |
Calcium: |
(15%DV) |
298mg (23%DV) |
Iron: |
(20% DV) |
5mg (28% DV) |
Potassium: |
(6% DV) |
695mg (15% DV) |
First, its okay to look at total calories but don’t get stuck on it. The oatmeal has more calories than the Egg McMuffin but does that mean it is more fattening or unhealthy?
Here are the 3 most important things to look at when you read a nutrition label:
- Saturated fat
- Cholesterol
- Sodium
Saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium are some of the biggest culprits causing heart disease.
How to Read a Nutrition Label in 3 Easy Steps
#1 Saturated Fat
On the other hand, the Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal clocks in at 3 grams and 15% Daily Value for saturated fat. This is much more reasonable. For breakfast, you are only eating 15% of your allowed saturated fat intake.
#2 Cholesterol
The Oatmeal, on the other hand just has 20mg or 7% of the daily value. A much more reasonable amount since we are trying to keep our cholesterol as low as possible.
#3 Dietary Fiber
The last thing I will point out here is the Dietary Fiber. Fiber is super healthful because it helps us eliminate food and prevent constipation. You got to keep things going to remove excess toxins in the body and fiber helps with that. Most Americans don’t get enough fiber because we don’t eat enough wholesome foods and eat too much meat and animal products.
Fiber is something we really need to increase. In the oatmeal, you get 12.6 grams, or 45% of your recommended fiber. That’s why a healthy breakfast is so good to have. Breakfast can be a great source of fiber in the morning and thats why studies show that people that have breakfast in the morning tend to be healthier. The morning is a great time to load up on fiber rich foods like oatmeal, whole grains, and fruit.
On the other hand, our friend Egg McMuffin has a poor fiber score of 2g (or 7% DV). Looks like that Egg McMuffin will be staying in your gut for a while!
Summary
This is a really quick guide on reading a nutritional label and what to look for.
Look for low amounts on these:
- Saturated Fat
- Cholesterol
- Sodium
And look for higher amounts on these:
- Dietary fiber
- Potassium
- Vitamins
Ideally we can all eat more wholefoods, or foods in their whole state like spinach, apples, whole grains- the foods that don’t have nutrition labels. But, if you do buy some foods with a nutrition label, keep these tips in mind to supplement your wholefood diet.
To your happy and healthy life,
Joanna
Instagram: @chefjoannas