So you’re committed to trying to eat healthier and have heard that you should read food labels, but can you trust the claims made by marketers about their food products. As you walk through any grocery store, you’ll see “fat-free,” “low-sodium,” “light,” and a whole host of other buzzwords. Remember, it’s buyer beware – not all of those buzzwords mean exactly what they say.

The Buzz Word Bible

Next time you’re navigating the grocery store aisles, the following definitions will make you a smarter shopper:

• Calorie Free – fewer than five calories per serving.
• Fat Free – less than half a gram of fat per serving.
• Light – must contain one-third fewer calories than the regular version of the same product.
• Low Fat– no more than three grams of fat per serving.
• Low in Sodium – no more than 140 milligrams of salt per serving.
• Low in Cholesterol – no more than 20 milligrams of cholesterol or two grams of saturated fat per serving.

Reading is Key!

Having a better grasp on those terms means you’ll be able to make better decisions about what you eat. But here’s a key point: Just because foods claim to be low in fat, sodium, or cholesterol doesn’t mean they’re low in calories. You have to look at the food label to get that information.

When looking at the food label, remember to look at “Serving Size” and “Servings Per Container.” The figures listed for calories, fat, and other ingredients are only for a single serving! Because there may be more than one serving in the package you’re holding, you may need to multiply calories, fat, and other ingredients by the number of servings listed on the label to discover the nutritional contents of the entire package.

Source: FDA