With February focusing on heart health, it’s a great time to take a closer look at the foods we enjoy and how they support our personal health goals. As Justine shared last week, the choices we make each day play an important role in caring for our bodies and hearts.
One simple way to support your heart is by becoming more familiar with food labels and food packaging claims. Food labels are found on most of the items in our pantries and refrigerators, and they can offer helpful information to guide our choices. Beyond the nutrition facts label, which highlights key nutrients and ingredients, many products also include words or claims on the front of the package designed to catch our attention.
Some common terms you might see include organic, natural, unprocessed, and whole grain. While these words can be useful, they don’t always tell the full story. Taking a moment to read the nutrition facts label and ingredient list can help you decide whether a product fits your individual nutrition needs and heart-health goals.
Another part of food packaging that often raises questions is product dating. Labels such as best by, use by, sell by, and expiration dates may appear on foods. In some cases, these dates relate to the item’s quality rather than food safety and are intended to help stores and consumers enjoy products at their best. Understanding what these dates mean can help reduce food waste and shape your meal planning.
To learn more about what the information on your food packaging means, check out the food labels section on Spend Smart. Eat Smart. Reading food labels can go a long way towards making more informed, heart-healthy choices!
