Reading Nutrition Labels

Grade 3 · Health · Study Guide

Learn how to read and understand the information on food nutrition labels to make healthy choices.

Nutrition labels are found on almost every packaged food. They give you important information about what is in your food and how much of certain things you are eating.

The top of a nutrition label shows the serving size. This tells you how much of the food counts as one serving. It also shows how many servings are in the whole package. If you eat more than one serving, you need to multiply the numbers!

Below the serving size, you will see calories. Calories are units of energy that food gives your body. Growing kids need plenty of calories every day to have energy for school, play, and growing.

The label also lists nutrients like fat, sodium (salt), sugar, protein, and fiber. Nutrients like protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals are things your body needs. Things like saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium are better in smaller amounts.

The percent daily value (% DV) tells you if a nutrient is high or low in a food. Five percent or less is considered low, and twenty percent or more is considered high. Use the % DV to compare foods and make healthier choices.

Key terms

Serving Size
The amount of food that counts as one portion, as listed on the nutrition label.
Calories
Units of energy provided by food that your body uses for all its activities.
Nutrient
A substance in food that your body needs to grow and stay healthy, like protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Sodium
The scientific name for salt found in food; too much can be unhealthy for the heart.
Protein
A nutrient that helps build and repair muscles and other parts of your body.
Percent Daily Value
A number on the nutrition label showing how much of a nutrient one serving provides compared to what you need in a whole day.

Flashcards

Serving Size
The measured amount of food listed on the label that all the nutrition facts are based on.
Calories
A unit of energy in food; your body uses calories to think, move, and grow.
Protein
A nutrient that builds and repairs muscles; found in meat, eggs, beans, and dairy.
Fiber
A nutrient in fruits, vegetables, and grains that helps your digestive system work well.
Sodium
Salt in food; the daily value for sodium should generally be kept low.
% Daily Value
Shows what percentage of a day's worth of a nutrient one serving provides; 20% or more is high, 5% or less is low.
Added Sugars
Sugars put into food during processing; different from naturally occurring sugars in fruit or milk.
Saturated Fat
A type of fat found in butter, cheese, and fatty meats; best eaten in small amounts.

Questions

  1. What does the serving size on a nutrition label tell you?

    1. How many calories are in the whole package
    2. How much of the food counts as one portion
    3. How many vitamins are in the food
    4. How much the food costs
    Show answer

    Answer: How much of the food counts as one portion

    The serving size tells you how much food equals one portion, which is the basis for all the other numbers on the label.

  2. Calories measure the amount of energy that food gives your body.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    Calories are units of energy. Food gives your body calories, which fuel everything you do.

  3. Which of the following is a nutrient your body NEEDS more of?

    1. Added sugar
    2. Saturated fat
    3. Sodium
    4. Protein
    Show answer

    Answer: Protein

    Protein is a nutrient your body needs to build and repair muscles. Added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium are best eaten in smaller amounts.

  4. A % Daily Value of 5% or less means a nutrient is considered ______.

    Show answer

    Answer: low

    According to nutrition label guidelines, a % Daily Value of 5% or less means that nutrient is low in that food.

  5. If a package has 3 servings and you eat the whole package, you should multiply all the nutrient numbers by 3.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    All numbers on the nutrition label are per serving. If you eat the whole package with 3 servings, you multiply everything by 3.

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