Much has been said about the Nutritional Facts Label that comes on every single item of food that you can find in the grocery store. People read this nutritional label for so many different reasons. Maybe you are comparing one food to another, or perhaps you are looking to lower your sodium, or total fat grams and you want to know what the daily value of everything you are putting in your mouth. Whatever the reason is, the nutritional facts label has become the standard of knowing what you eat.

The nutritional data is listed very clearly for you on the back of each can, box, bottle, or package. Each label is based on a 2000 calorie diet, as is the daily value (%DV). Included on each label are the following nutritional facts:

• The Serving Size – Standardized to help compare foods, it influences how many calories and nutrients are in each item of food. Always know how many serving sizes you are consuming as compared to what is in the entire package.

• Calories and Calories From Fat – These provide the measure of how much energy you are getting from each serving size. If you are looking to lose weight, the lower the calories the better for you.

• The Nutrients – You should separate these into 2 main groups, what to limit, and what to add more of. Nutrients to limit are the Fat, Cholesterol, and Sodium and the nutrients to at least get enough of are Fiber, Calcium, Iron, and Vitamins A and C.

• The Footnote – It will tell you if the percentage is based on a 2000 calorie diet, or in some cases a 2,500 calorie diet.

• The Percentage Daily Value – These are the daily recommendations based on a 2,000 calorie diet according to the FDA. It helps to determine if you are eating too much, or just the right amount of your daily intake of each of these items.

For weight loss in particular you really need to take the time to study each nutritional label to find out if what you are eating is in direct proportion to the number of calories, fat, or nutrients that you need to take in. There should be no second guessing in what you are eating because you have it all right in front of you.

Even when eating out you can still check the nutritional facts through the website HungerAway on their Nutritional Database. They list over 90,000 foods that you can type into the search box to know exactly what you are taking into your body. That way, if you must stop by one of the many fast food places you can compare what is in a cheeseburger versus one of the many salad options that fast food restaurants now offer. It is a simple way to make eating out easier without having the guilt that sometimes follows a dinner out.

The nutritional database at HungerAway is excellent for everyday items as well, so before you actually get to the grocery store you should take the time to make a list that includes the healthiest foods you find. When you have a list of healthier foods, it helps you to not stray into the unhealthy food aisle. With the help of the nutritional database and the nutritional fact labels, you should be taking off those pounds in no time.