Food Labels: What do the Bold Claims Really Mean

Food labels are descriptive guides----Right? 
Less?  Reduced? Low? Light? 

What do these adjectives specifically mean? 
Are their definitions easy to glean?

The FDA is here to help---with what we need to know,
Issuing specific meanings to the general terms below

(Sorry for the corny attempt at rhyming!)

Dietary Dictionary

(familiar one- or two-word phrases on labels  monitored by the 

Food and Drug Administration

 and their very specific definitions.)

FREE as in without, no, zero: Contains no consequential amount of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, sugars, or calories. If this is true in a food's natural state, the label will say so (for example, "cider vinegar, a calorie-free food.")

LIGHT or LITE: These are products that have one-third fewer calories, half the fat, or half the sodium of the regular version.

LOW or LITTLE as in a low source of, or contains a small amount of:
Foods low in
fat contain a maximum 3 g per serving
low in saturated fat - 1 g
low in sodium - 140 mg
very low in sodium - 35 mg
low in cholesterol - 20 mg and less than 2 g saturated fat
low in calories - 40 calories

REDUCED (only applies to altered foods): A nutritionally altered
product with at least 25 percent fewer calories or of a nutrient
than the regular product. This claim can't be made on a product
if, in its original state, can be considered "low" (see above)

LESS or FEWER: If a food is said to have "less" or "fewer" of
something, it has not necessarily been altered but is being compared
 with other foods in a similar category. (for example, pretzels could
be said to contain less fat and fewer calories than other snacks, such
as potato chips.)

What does "Nutrition Facts" on a label mean?
Many people monitor their calories; some watch their fat, cholesterol, or sodium intake. The "Nutrition Facts" chart lists how much of each of these, as well as protein, carbohydrates, and other components, the food inside the package contains.

It is important to watch the serving size number. Many are not realistic (i.e. a 12-ounce-can of soda may list its figures based on two servings per can, thus appearing to lower the levels).

Additionally, the labels  have a %DV (percent daily value) column based on, usually, a 2,000 calorie daily diet.

MORE or fortified, enriched, added, extra, plus:A serving of food that has at least 10%DV more of a certain nutrient than a food with which is compared.

GOOD SOURCE or contains, provides: A serving of a food with 10 to 19%DV of a particular nutrient (which means it's slightly less than "high" (see below)

HIGH or excellent source of, rich: A serving of a food that contains 20%DV or more of a particular nutrient.

Manufacturer's go to great lengths to make their products more appealing and marketable. Hopefully the above has helpful in discerning the different meanings of similar words.

My next post will cover (or uncover) the specific government definitions for FRESH, ORGANIC, HEALTHY, NATURAL and more.

How You Treat Your Spouse is the Greatest Tool for . .

teaching your children to respect the opposite sex.

It's Thursday and I have been struggling with the post  that was suppose to be posted two days ago. I've had several ideas and some unsuccessful starts but nothing felt right.

As I sat down once again this morning, an item in our inbox really "spoke" to me.  I feel impressed to share it with you.

Daily, on almost all media fronts we are bombarded with inaccurate and inappropriate images, programs, and advertising---skewing  how men and women interact---making the abhorrent appear commonplace and acceptable.

What follows is the first five paragraphs from an article in a Salt Lake City, Utah newspaper --- the Deseret News.  I hope you will make the time to go to the link at the bottom of the post to read the entire article.

Teaching children by how you treat your spouse by journalist Trent Toone

Geoff Steurer and 8-year-old Andy were standing in a grocery store checkout line one day when the father noticed his son had been hypnotized by a collection of magazine covers featuring immodestly dressed women.

Steurer had seen that look before with his other boys. He bent down, put his arm around his son and gently turned him toward the shelves of candy as a teaching opportunity unfolded.

“You notice those women don’t have many clothes on and it kind of gets your attention, doesn’t it?” Steurer said to his son. “We probably ought to give them some privacy like we give mom when she is changing her clothes.”

It was an educational moment for young Andy. Steurer, a licensed marriage and family therapist, explained in simple terms that magazine covers are designed to grab a person’s attention and he didn’t know why the girls allowed themselves to be photographed as they undressed. He wanted his son to understand it’s natural for males to be attracted to females, but only in an honorable, appropriate context and manner.

“It’s a tricky balance because you want to set boundaries, but at the same time validate and allow our boys to understand that this is a God-given reaction they are having,” Steurer said. “If we do it gently, respectfully and honestly, I think they get a clear message that, yes, this feels good, but no, not in this way, not here, not right now, not with this person.”

Steurer’s experience is just one example of many methods that parents can use to teach their children how to respect the opposite sex. Parents, especially fathers, can set a standard of respect through their behavior, language, media choices and a number of other actions.


From Gail: I  can't seem to make the web address something to just click on. Please copy and paste it  and continue reading. 


http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865573075/Teaching-children-by-how-you-treat-your-spouse.html?pg=1