It all started as a reader request...

It all started as a reader request...

It all started as a reader request...

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that people "Reduce daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) and further reduce intake to 1,500 mg among persons who are 51 and older and those of any age who are African American or have hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease." Where better to start than by reducing their intake of sodium-laden refined grains?

It seems like every time you turn around, companies are adding a new claim to their product packaging. So how can your clients decipher all these crazy assertions, much less separate the useful ones from the misdirection? Why, with this handy-dandy guide, of course!

The FDA has just released their guide to menu labeling, and this post has everything you need to know...

One year ago today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set out a final rule about which foods could and could not use the "gluten-free" label. Now that a year has passed, the law has moved from "voluntary" to "mandatory" and, by today, all foods bearing the label "gluten-free" must meet the requirements set forward by the FDA.

By now, your clients have probably heard all about the health benefits of whole grains. But sometimes, knowledge about why a food is healthful isn't quite enough. How to start eating more of these whole grain foods is also key.

The FDA has proposed an update for the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods. This update would reflect the latest scientific information, including the link between diet and chronic diseases like obesity and heart disease. The proposed label would also replace out-of-date serving sizes with options that reflect how much food people actually eat. It would even feature a fresh design that highlights key parts of the label (like calories and serving sizes). We asked our dietitian editor, Lynn Greiger, RDN, CDE, to give us her opinion about the proposed changes and how they will affect nutrition educators and consumers. Here are her 4 likes and 2 dislikes for the proposed label.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced its preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” for use in food. The FDA’s preliminary determination is based on available scientific evidence and the findings of expert scientific panels. This article offers an overview of trans fat and where we are today with consumption and sources.

You may remember all the excitement surrounding the new gluten labeling guidelines, which regulate claims about whether a food contains gluten. We wanted to explore the ramifications of other claims on product labels, and while I was going through food articles, I found this gem about misleading "natural" food claims by NYU professor Marion Nestle. What does that "natural" label mean anyway?

Well, it's official. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized the definition of the term "gluten-free" and is regulating its use on food labels. No longer can manufacturers simply slap that label on their foods without following proper guidelines first...

MyPlate is a fantastic guide to balanced eating, but did you know that it can help with portion control too? Yes, balancing your plate is important, but if that plate is the size of a football field, the meal won't be as healthful. It's just too much food. Serving size matters, and moderation is key.

The Nutrition Facts label is full of vital information for evaluating a product, but do you know how to interpret all the details? Find out with our simple, 3-step system for reading a Nutrition Facts label.

Here are the three Bs of Label Reading that will teach you what you really need to know about shopping, reading food labels and getting a grip on the calories you bring into your house.