Nutrient Claims Facts- Printable Chart for Healthy Food Shopping

Sometimes I go grocery shopping and I have to really stop and read the labels to figure out exactly what the "nutrient claim" on the package really means! Why? Well the marketers have gotten so clever with their "marketing claims" and sometimes they can be misleading. Here are some examples:

What is the difference between low sodium and reduced sodium?

What does high fiber and a "good source of fiber" really mean? Is there a difference?  Which one is better?

Well, I am sure I am not alone! The good news is these nutrient claims are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and there are specific requirements in order to put a nutrient claim on a package. Now we just have to know what those requirements are!

To help you maneuver through these myriad of messages, we have put together a quick handy dandy reference sheet of the most popular nutrient claims with their definition. You can print it out and take it with you to the grocery store.

This way, you will know exactly what their claims really mean. Let me know if this is helpful. If there is any other reference sheets you would like to see us create, please let us know. Happy grocery shopping.