Do you read food labels?

[Hairball]

It seems like a few years ago almost every single packaged food started to have nutritional facts. I believe it was made mandatory by the government.

Do you people read these labels?

I didn't really seem to until I started to diet last year (kept the weight off for over 6 months now).

Ever since that, I made a habit of keeping track of how many calories I eat, and what I buy at the store. Granted, I don't keep track religiously now, but it really helps to get an idea of how much you're eating.

[myversa]

I read it from time to time but not always.

[aw3s0me]

ever since ive had trouble fitting in my 40" waist pants ive been calorie counting too.

[UrbanPoet]

yes. Vigerously. As part of my bodybuilding regimen, i try to keep my nutritional intake clean.
But for most foods i can estimate how much calories/fat/protein is in it just b/c i look @ themso much.

[sleepyguy]

Usually only for sweets, but everything else, nope. I usually buy "raw" foods not pre-packaged crap anyway so I know it's usually good stuff. I am a sucker for potatoe chips though... can usually finish a family size (400?) in one sitting... lol. :)

[nalababe]

If I buy something in a package, I want to know what is in it...I am actually more concerned about the ingredients...as I have a good idea already on the relative amounts of PCF.

[MoonDoggy]

depends on what I buy. I look at it if I'm buying more processed food.

[Psylocke]

I always look at the nutritional labels... esp. since I started taking more control of my diet and exercise. I usually just glance at the calorie count and the fat/trans fat percentage.

[funkyfr3sh_]

For processed foods, I do most of the time. I like to know what I am putting in my body.

Raw fruit & veggies, I don't really care.

[felixdd]

Not for calories. I'm actually trying to GAIN weight.

I read it to minimize trans and saturated fat, and also to minimize salt. For certain foods I maximize on fiber (e.g. cereal) and protein.

[a_y3n]

i used to never look at the labels.. but now i'm starting to gain weight - i guess my metabolism went down, so i have to read labels

[CSK'sMom]

We're almost fanatical about reading labels. We eat very few processed foods but we still read like crazy. I do wish though that Canada would adapt the same label as the US along with their gluton, lactose, etc quick fact "circles".

I just had to give my inlaws a refresher course about the importance of reading them and making appropriate choices. Hubby's Mom needs to really limit her sodium intake and some of the crap, processed stuff they were eating was exceptionally high in sodium all the while saying they don't cook with or use salt.

[Papagorgio]

religiously..

[Keelie]

i check them on almost any item i buy that has one. i try to stay away from packaged food as much as possible.

mostly i'm looking at the trans fat and sodium.

[molala]

i do....but i don't keep track of amount of calories intake...more to compare which brand to buy for that particular product...from all these years reading it...i found that usually generic brands are lower in calories and fat

[calvinmun]

time to time if im bored but not constantly i dont relaly care half the stuff that goes into our body isnt good for it anyways :(

[Dimension]

I read it from time to time but not always.

+1, I like to read the ingredients.

[M@rk]

I don't think I've ever looked at a nutrition label before... I just tend to use common sense. Sometimes I look at how much sodium intake I'm getting in a frozen dinner for kicks, but then I only look at it when I'm about to eat it anyways

I guess I'm not too concerned in general because I don't have snacks very often, and my meals are mostly made from scratch and pretty light, so I allow myself some leeway.

But when I use 1/4 stick of butter for a recipe on the weekends, I don't need the label to tell me my arteries are going to get clogged :razz:

[sportmiester]

I'll check out the saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium levels

[silentio]

I find the worst offenders are juice (most have sugar/frutose), and soup (tons of salt).

I watch what I eat.

[Amuse]

yes, nowadays I do. Sugar is a big one too. I also look at unhealthy ingredients.

[cahk]

It seems like a few years ago almost every single packaged food started to have nutritional facts. I believe it was made mandatory by the government.

Do you people read these labels?

I didn't really seem to until I started to diet last year (kept the weight off for over 6 months now).

Ever since that, I made a habit of keeping track of how many calories I eat, and what I buy at the store. Granted, I don't keep track religiously now, but it really helps to get an idea of how much you're eating.

I read the labels everytime I buy food but I only concern with sodium and trans fat - the rest I just scan through

[audit13]

I tend to concentrate on the product's caloric content because fat equals higher calories. This method could be completely wrong but I've managed to drop weight, keep it off, and improve my blood chemistry (i.e. lower cholesterol, etc.)

[Bookpreviews]

I read the food labels too much.

I know I'm not supposed to eat any foods that contain phosphates in them as they make me very very itchy.

Also trying to avoid MSG when possible.
Kraft is one of the worst companies- almost all their foods and crackers contains phosphates, msg and artifical colour.

Even those new Organic Ritz crackers, they have phosphates and so many chemicals that I would not consider them organic.

The only times I do not read labels is when I order ice cream when i am out.
I really don't want to know.
But I did just recently read the nutrition info for Baskin Robbins and it was much better than i thought- so will be buying more ice cream there :lol:

[Mgz]

i can't get fat for some reason , so I don't really bother :/

[VancouverI$land]

I have to say that personally I HAVE to read food labels as I have some food allergies. I also have bad eyesight, which means that I end up staying away from products I don't recognise or haven't bought before. Often meaning I miss out of bargains! Does anyone have any recommendations for a magnifier I can carry with me all the time to counteract this problem? Or do you know if it's a requirement for the supermarkets to carry magnifiers that visually impaired customers can borrow?