No matter what it is, always check the nutritional facts on the back label. Remember, reduced fat products have only a 1/3 less fat than regular products. The calories are usually the same in both products.

you are great!

ALWAYS check ingredients list before you buy any packaged food…!! stay away from high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated anything !!

i care a lot about health and nutrition. i always try to eat healthy because i know i am helping myself. i’m proud of myself because most people my age don’t really care about health like i do

I think its rather interesting that companies even add some of the chemicals into our foods, I mean do they seriously look at the ingredients and say “oh this 30 letter word that we can pronounce would be great in that!”

I’ve never thought of looking for fair trade products before. The main ones that I look for are: Organic, Whole Grains, All Natural… etc.

Hi, I am just bad with food labels…if the box looks good i buy it…i know thats bad.

Im a serious Vegan, so I have lots of practice reading labels. Very tricky stuff. I learned that foods with more than five ingredients are probably not good for you, especially if you cant pronounce them. Always room for improvement though, maybe I can learn something new.

I read labels on every product I purchase. If it says whole wheat don’t believe them, unless it says 100% whole wheat. Read the label. I have an uncommon allergy to malt and most wheat products have malt. If there is no ingredient list I don’t eat it.

I have learned whats on the outside of a package doesnt match the ingrediants list most of the time. people think they are buying healthy and they realy aren’t. thanks for sharing this information.

I enjoy reading the posts here. I too have chronic illness/health disabilities and have moved a lot more towards the organic lifestyle as I’m able to afford it. Finances is an issue but I do what I can. I’m amazed at how many products try to claim they are organic with out the official USDA organic label! Or they claim organic and than list one thing as organic…. soo deceptive!

IT WAS DIFFICULT BUT I DID IT

I now am starting to get medical problems that more healthy eating are required. I read all of the ingredients on packages. Try to buy the most natural products i can. but sometimes it’s hard. I also have 8 yr old who highly allergic to most foods so reading the labels is extremely important to us..

I am a label reading fiend, but want to learn a little more about some of the things on labels that I am not familiar with.

I’m a “foodie label – aholic!!!”

I eat helty food only….

In this day and age, it is SO important to know what we are putting into our bodies. I think this will be a good opportunity for me to consciously look at what I am comsuning. I am really getting into this challenge already!

I just started reading a book called “Twinkies: Deconstructed”. Each chapter is about an ingredient in twinkies (the author uses Twinkies because they are so loaded with chemicals it’s rediculous, and most of the ingredients in them are abundant in most of the food today). It’s shoking how some of the chemicals we consume can be used in concrete setting, grenades, and rocket fuel. Growing up I wasn’t raised on the best food, but I’ve been with my boyfriend for 2 1/1 years, and his mother is strictly organic, and showed me the way to a good and healthy life. I plan on knocking out as much artificial and processed food as I can to feel better, live longer, and educate others.

I love to buy Fair trade products. When looking at products, and I see one company has the Fair Trade emblem on the package, I will buy that companies product, regardless of the price. So many child slaves and uneducated farmers are being used in day to day harvesting of items such as coffee and cocoa beans. I did a report for my speech class about this, and I was astonished to find that big American companies don’t use free trade, and willingly or not, they use slave labor. Imagine a 12 year old kid or 10 year old kid being forced to climb up a cocoa tree with a machete and having to chop the pods for 12 to 14 hours a day, no matter what the temperature, or weather, or night or day. Companies who use the Fair Trade emblem guarantees they do not use slaves, and they do educate their farmers to provide a better product, they are even paid accordingly to their local standards. I strongly believe all people should boycott products that do not have the free trade emblem and only buy those that do. It’s a small step in the right direction to ensure human rights and equality for all humans of this wonderful planet.

I have learned whats on the outside of a package doesnt jive with the ingrediants list. most people dont know they think they are buying healthy and they arent. thanks for sharing this information. i will pass it on thanks

I was recently told I have eosinaphilicfaciitis caused by a reaction to a drug. the Dr recomended that I start an additives free lifestyle to help eliminate any further interactions. The foods I’ve tried from Kashi are great and this challenge to learn to read labels was really helpful. If I can’t pronounce the words on the labels they probably are,’t real food and there for something I should avoid.

I’m extremely new to this, so everyone, please be patient with me. I recently discovered that I have MS. Prior to this I’ve tried to take steps for healthy eating, not just me but my whole family. Now more than ever, we’re changing the way we look at foods. Kashi is a product that I’ve seen but never bought. While visiting our oldest daughter, she introduced Kashi to us and wow. This stuff is fantastic! Not a bit tasting like cardboard either LOL. Anyway, I hope we can do this. Not just for now, but forever.