I am super excited to share this video with you today. Reading ingredient labels is one of the most important steps you can take when it comes to cutting out highly processed foods. And that’s because reading the ingredients is the number one way to know what’s in your food.
Honestly, food marketers make it no easy task though. They distract us with misleading claims on the front of the package and often use terminology that makes the product sound better than it really is. So watch along while I walk you through eight real life packaged food examples and explain how to decipher each of their ingredient labels!
Additional Food Label Resources:
- Understanding Grains (Whole, Multigrain, Wheat, Etc.)
- Gluten-Free, Multi-Grain, and Organic Junk Food
- 5 Ingredient Rule Explained
- Misleading Packaged Food Products: Roundup 1 and Roundup 2
- “Sugar Free” Does Not Equal Healthy (and more startling facts about artificial sweeteners)
- 7 Reasons I Hate Artificial Food Dyes
How to Make a Perfect Green Smoothie
Thank you so much for all of the helpful information you share on your blog! I was wondering what you thought of Trader Joe’s Inner Peas. Would you consider those a good snack option?
Hi there. While the ingredient list is short, which is great, it has both refined oil and a preservative. This makes it unlikely to come home in Lisa’s shopping cart. :)
Thanks so much for sharing this information. Food labels are so misleading it seems unfathomable that they are allowed to do this. I just purchased your book as i have developed a real passion to live a healthy life for myself and my family. I just discovered your website it’s so wonderful thanks for your sharing your knowledge!!
Hi Lisa! My name is April and I’m a teacher in Ellicott City, MD. I teach a class called Future of Foods which strives to teach kids how to make healthier food choices (among other things).
Last week, the lesson was about reading nutrition and ingredient labels and we watched your video. The kids really enjoyed you and the tips you shared so I wanted to thank you for making this video. You made my job easier and reached about 120 kids! :-)
Is there any one place to find bad ingredients on food labels? I had one last year that disappeared this year. You could search A to Z and it said what was ok or not.
Hi. Here is one that might help: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/quality-standards/food-ingredient.
thanks for sharing this video. I have been switching to organic over the last few months and was introduced to your website through a friend. I am guilty of assuming that anything organic is good for you. Ugh, so much to learn still!! I cannot get my family to switch over to whole wheat pasta to save my life, so I have been buying organic regular pasta. Same with organic yogurt – they won’t touch it with a 10 foot pole!!! Baby steps.
This was a great video, but showing a good option after each highly processed option would be really helpful to people who are new to label reading.
Hi. Love your blog. I hear the word organic thrown around alot these days. Can you explain what that term means. Thanks
Hi Joann. It means food that is grown/raised without the use of harmful pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. This will help in detail: http://blogs.usda.gov/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-the-usda-organic-label-means/.
Good Lord, there is no telling what all I have been eating!!. I thought that doing a pantry audit was good. SHRIEK!! I need to trash it all… I am assuming that you start off slow. Like with the crackers. If you find the correct ones..Meaning all organic then thats the ones you keep buying? What about cookies, cupcakes, cakes, pies. Do you make any?
Hi Victoria. Yes, it takes some time to figure out all the details that work best for you. You do not have to trash everything at once (though many do). You could consider doing the mini pledges https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/original-100-day-pledge/ which can ease you in one change at a time. And yes, Lisa makes a bit of everything. Just peruse the recipe index: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/real-food-resources/recipe-index/. :)
Great Video. Thank you! Just got the book and will start reading today!
Loved your video, and since finding your site I have slowly changed what we buy. The only thing is I would love to see a video with some alternative choices for things like crackers. As of right now we don’t buy any crackers because I was overwhelmed trying to find a alternative my kids would eat.
Hello Sandy. Lisa buys whole wheat matzo crackers and sometimes the Crunchmaster brand. ~Amy
I found a cracker I love at Whole Foods. It is their brand, looks just like a Triscuit, but only contains whole wheat and I believe salt. Much blander that Triscuits, but with a chunk of cheese they taste great!