Understanding Food Labels
How to Tell the Difference Between Reduced Calorie and Light
If all of those terms on labels has your head spinning, never fear! This article will teach you all the calorie terms you need to know.
Shopping for low calorie cooking ingredients can be confusing. There are so many different “low cal” terms! What do they all mean? Here are some definitions to help sort out the real low calorie foods from those wannabe’s.
What is calorie free?
Calorie free foods sound like heaven. They give us the feeling that we can eat all we want without any repercussions. But wait! That food that’s labeled calorie free may still have calories! The FDA says that a product can be labeled calorie free as long as it has fewer than 5 calories. So, if a food has 4 calories and you eat ten servings you are still getting 40 calories even though the label says the food is calorie free.
How do you make sure a food is really calorie free? Don’t take the bold words on the front as the gospel. Turn the package over and look at the federally approved Nutrition Facts label. Under the heading “total calories” you will be able to see exactly how many calories the item actually has.
What Does Low Calorie Mean?
Low calorie is often a confusing term. Some people think low calorie is interchangeable with terms such as light or reduced calorie. While they do overlap sometimes, the FDA takes a more stringent view. It defines low calorie as a food that is more than 2 tablespoons and does not provide more than 40 calories.
What Does Reduced Calorie and Light Mean?
While the definition of low calorie is good to know, some of the recipes found at this site can also be considered reduced calorie or light. The FDA considers a food reduced calorie or light if the calories have been reduced by one-third.
Once again, flip over those packages and look at the total calorie count. Even reduced or light foods may not be low enough calorie to include them in your everyday eating routine.
How can I determine which food is best for me?
Which food you buy really depends on your calorie needs. Really, it doesn’t matter what fantastic claims are on the label if it doesn’t suit what you want to achieve. Take a look at the label. Find the total amount of calories and the serving size and ask yourself, “Am I willing to invest this many calories into my daily total?” If the answer is ‘no’ then pass on it.
And remember, just because a food has fewer calories doesn’t mean you can eat all you want. Be smart, and you can reap the benefits of reading those labels!
