Why You Should Actually Read Food Labels
Most people skip the back of the package. Here's why that's a mistake and what to look for when you start paying attention.
We all grab stuff off the shelf without thinking. I used to do it too. But once you start flipping the package around and actually reading what's inside, you can't unsee it.
The basics nobody taught us
There are a few things I always check now:
- Ingredients list — they're ordered by quantity. If sugar (or one of its 50+ names) is in the first three, put it back.
- Serving size — companies play games here. That "low calorie" snack might be based on eating 3 chips.
- Added sugars vs total sugars — fruit has natural sugar, that's fine. Added sugar is the problem.
The names sugar hides behind
You'd be surprised. High fructose corn syrup is obvious, but what about maltodextrin, dextrose, barley malt, rice syrup, or "evaporated cane juice"? They're all sugar with a costume on.
What I do now
I'm not perfect, and I'm not trying to be. But I have a simple rule: if I can't pronounce most of the ingredients, I don't buy it. Real food doesn't need a chemistry degree to understand.
Start small. Next time you're at the supermarket, just flip one product around. Read what's actually in it. That awareness alone changes everything.