by Bree Tyson

Created on: October 13, 2008   Last Updated: January 29, 2010

So... turning the food product around, frantically looking for the nutrition facts? No worry, we've all been there. Yes, a lot of us care about what we're putting into our bodies, especially if one is trying to squeeze into those jeans from five years ago.

So why not turn to the trusty nutrition label? But if you're going to analyze it and know if it's good for you, you should do it right. With the help from the weight loss program, Weight Watchers, you will see what to look for on a nutrition label to decide which food would be the better pick.

At the top of the nutrition label is not the calories, but the serving size! This is very important because no matter how many calories or fat the product has, the total amount depends on the serving size. So look at that first, and keep it in mind for the end of your food evaluation.

Next, is the calories. You don't want to have too many of these or calories from fat. Try to keep it own the low side as much as possible.

Then, it's the fat! Things low in fat are a good choice, but even if a product has a lot of fat, it could be the good fat that you need. How can you tell? By looking at how much saturated, mono-unsaturated, trans, etc. fat there is. Saturated is bad fat and you don't want most of the fat to contain that. But fats like mono and polyunsaturated are healthier and can be found in foods like nuts, peanut butter, and oil.

Next is cholesterol and sodium. These are the big no-nos! High sodium and especially high cholesterol can be a damage to your weight and/or your health. Looking for foods, such as oatmeal, that have low or no cholesterol is good. And anything that has reduced or low sodium would be a better choice also.

Down the list next is potassium. This is a natural element that is helps our bodies to stay healthy. So simply put: Potassium + more Potassium= Great!

 Now after potassium is the big CARBOHYDRATES. For some people that's a very scary word. These people try to stay away from carbs a lot more than they need to. This may come as a shock, but carbs is actually needed for our bodies. Of course having too much is going to have bad results, but eliminating them all together to "feel" healthy or look slim for some upcoming event isn't advised. Just boost up the fiber but lower the sugar that is found in the carbs, and you'll do okay.

Next, protein is another thing that is needed in our daily meals. Too much of it isn't good, but something that has just enough protein is better.

Finally, the simple yet confusing vitamins and elements underneath are good to have. Anything that has those vitamins and natural elements is good, and that's all you need to know.

Also! Looking for the ingredients is a good idea if you are further interested in making the best choice in food. The more natural ingredients are better for you in the long run! Now after you have looked over all of the nutrition facts, go back and look at the serving size to make sure you add it all up right.

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