A nationally recognized nutrition expert tells shoppers exactly what should be going into their carts. The whole foods movement explained how to shop healthfully at the farmers market, but how can families shop smart at Wal-Mart? There is a wealth of information on labels, but most people have no idea that products labeled "trans-fat free" can contain trans-fats or that "all natural" is a meaningless phrase. Readers can bring this handy guide to the supermarket to help them interpret labels like a pro. How much sodium is too much? Are all carbs the kiss of death? And what does "organic" really mean? Renowned nutritionist Bonnie Taub-Dix clears up the confusion by showing readers how to make sense of the labels and sidestep tricky marketing ploys. She walks them through a typical grocery store and points out the best food choices to make in every aisle.

During the past decade, tremendous growth has occurred in the use of nutrition symbols and rating systems designed to summarize key nutritional aspects and characteristics of food products. These symbols and the systems that underlie them have become known as front-of-package (FOP) nutrition rating systems and symbols, even though the symbols themselves can be found anywhere on the front of a food package or on a retail shelf tag. Though not regulated and inconsistent in format, content, and criteria, FOP systems and symbols have the potential to provide useful guidance to consumers as well as maximize effectiveness. As a result, Congress directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to undertake a study with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to examine and provide recommendations regarding FOP nutrition rating systems and symbols. The study was completed in two phases. Phase I focused primarily on the nutrition criteria underlying FOP systems. Phase II builds on the results of Phase I while focusing on aspects related to consumer understanding and behavior related to the development of a standardized FOP system. Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols focuses on Phase II of the study. The report addresses the potential benefits of a single, standardized front-label food guidance system regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, assesses which icons are most effective with consumer audiences, and considers the systems/icons that best promote health and how to maximize their use.

Introduces readers to the basic items on a nutrition label, such as serving size and nutrients. Readers will learn how to use this information to make healthful food choices. Additional features to aid comprehension include a table of contents, labeled diagrams, a quiz and answer key, a phonetic glossary, an index, sources for further research, and an introduction to the author.

Nutrition can be complicated. How do you know what foods are healthy and what aren't? How much should you eat? How can you use the food labels to find the answers to these questions? Food labels let you know what kinds of ingredients are in your food, and how many nutrients are in there. Discover how to read food labels—and how to use them to choose the best foods you can!

Explains how to read food labels to make quick, healthy decisions about grocery purchases.

The Real Food Grocery Guide provides actionable answers to the multitude of nutrition questions that arise during your trips to the grocery store and puts you on a path to a healthy diet and lifestyle.