Reading labels??

[Kay/NC]

Spent longer in Sam's today than usual, not because the list was long, but because I did a good bit of extra label reading while I was there. I was ferreting out wheat and similar grains, which is harder than using the nutrition listing. It is surprising what you find when you take the time.

That cut a hole in the day, leaving me no real time to putter.. Dashed home and gobbled our takeout barbecue, slaw and beans ( no biscuits for me today).

Made me wonder how many of you take time to read food labels. It takes some time to do it thoroughly. If you don't do it, is it because you rarely have the time?

Hint: Carry your reading glasses!

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

What kind of smartphone do you have?  Google for gluten free apps for your Android or iOS device and maybe it will be quicker to scan the barcode and let it tell you if the food contains gluten.  Maybe it won't be quicker, too, I don't know.  Just an idea.  If you try it, tell us if it's a good idea or too slow/cumbersome/awkward.

[linda/IL]

I try & read any labels I'm not familiar with.  I try & watch the carbs & sugars for DS who is diabetic & refuses to watch it.  At this point he's OK with his pill & moderately watching sugar.  Loves to drink juice for breakfast & those can be really high.

I think some of those labels need a magnifying glass!  And OTC medications are the worst!

[Kay/NC]

Motorola RAZR...so, Android OS. Thanks for the suggestion!

[turkey feather]

I read labels but I believe few people do so. I especially read where fresh produce comes from.

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

Do you buy something because of what is on the label, NOT buy something because of what is on the label, read the label only as a matter of curiousity or what?

A large, regional grocery chain went with a food nutrition rating system by NuVal that I took to right away and I make many  food buying decisions based on it.  It's especially handy for highly processed foods.

http://www.nuval.com/

The higher the score, the better the food is for you. 

Fresh ruits and vegetables usually score very well, often in the 90's.

Ice cream scores from 1 to 50, so it can make a huge difference which you buy.  Pickles score a 1!  Who'd have thought it?  Candy and so forth, may cookeis, etc. are all in the single digits.  Crackers are all over the place, but in the 30's is pretty high.  Preparied frozen dinneres run in the teens to the 30's.  I've seen cereals that are in the 90's and the very same cereal with sweetener is in the 20's or 30's.

So, I frankly always chack that number.  Part of that number is salt.  I don't know what all the scoring criteria are, but it is a fast, handy way to make a quick choice betwen A and B on the same shelf.

This system would help you buy healthy food, but would not be adequate by itself to make decisions on gluten, salt or other specific ingredient issues.

[turkey feather]

Usually is what is on the label. I sometimes wonder how reliable the info is. It has to add to the cost. I had to make a habit of reading labels when avoiding soy. Difficult.

[Kay/NC]

Right now, I am reading specifically for gluten, wheat/rye/barley. If it s there, I leavevit in the store.

In the past, have read for total carbs/ sugars/net carbs.

Also, the more I read about health and food, the more I am inclined to follow the advice to onky eat things my grandmother or great- grandmother would have recoginzed as foods. That keeps out a lot of the riffraff of additives.