Reading labels

[chager]

I went to the store to get spaghetti noodles and just out of curiousity I read the label to see how many carbs were in them. I found that the box that was labelled as low carb had the exact same amount as all the rest!! I found a whole wheat box that had about 10 less then all the rest so I'm going to try them. While I am not going to follow any low carb diet exactly and I am trying to lower our carb intake overall. I even found a low carb drink I can live with. I tried the new Propel by Gatorade and really like it. I also bought a bottle of Fuze Slenderize and like it too. I checked the labels and each has low carbs. I think one had 2 and the other 3. Plus the added benefit of no caffeine I think they will make good substitutes for my Coke.
Shopping by reading the labels does prove challenging for me. It is taking a chore I already didn't like and making it last longer!!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Originally posted by chager
I tried the new Propel by Gatorade and really like it.

I LOVE Propel! And the best part is that when I drink it, I usually don't feel like EATING anything. I know it's just glorified water, but there is something about it....

I agree 100% with you on the importance of reading labels. One thing that really surprised me this week was the difference in added sodium for various brands of canned tomatoes! I usually try to go for the no-salt-added, but I know now just WHY it makes such a difference!

 

[nativetxn]

Readings labels is really interesting to me. My husband is getting pretty good at it, too.

It is amazing the number of products that contain sugar. Things you wouldn't expect to <i>have</i> sugar.

We eat plenty of carbs at our house just no refined carbs. We gave up sugar and flour for life and sometimes it is a challenge to find foods without sugar. Sometimes the product will say "no sugar added" and then you see on the label that it contains corn syrup--just a different name for sugar. Sneaky people

 

[AKASnowWhite]

My DH (who has never been one OUNCE overweight and has a metabolism to DIE for!!!! ) eats so much ice cream it's obsene! Anyway, he went to get a new carton out of the freezer in the basement, and I "guilted" him into reading the label! Of course, he says it is WRONG! That there was NO WAY there was 14 servings in that container! Really there was more like 5! Then I poured 1/2 cup of water (the *official* serving size) into the same kind of bowl that he uses for his nightly feast. He was SHOCKED (and might I say very disappointed! ) at what an actual serving was. Well, just to PROVE to me that he could *survive* with the meager serving size, he ate only a 1/2 cup portion......which we decided was probably A THIRD of what he usually eats!

I think the world would be a thinner place if we ALL paid a bit more attention to what an actual serving size was!!!

 

[Nancy]

That's what I've learned through WW...portion control. It's just amazing how small 1 cup of cereal is! I measure and weigh everything. I got real comfortable and cocky with the old "I've been nmeasuring for months I know what 1 cup looks like" only to find that as the weeks go by the 1 cup becomes 2 cups if you only eyeball it.

Labels confuse me...what is the difference between total carbs and NET carbs. I buy light wheat bread and a big sticker on it says "only 7 net carbs per serving" Is there a difference? I'm not doing low carb, just curious.