If you've done much grocery shopping, you've probably noticed that most food items have a nutrition label which offers an array of information. It's designed to be easily understandable, but the sheer number of different elements on the label can make reading it a little daunting.

These helpful tips from the Food and Drug Administration can help you read a nutrition label more effectively. Here are some guidelines:

• The information at the very top of the label describes how large a serving size is (for example, 1 cup) and how many of those servings are in the whole container.
• The next section describes the calories and calories from fat in a single serving. If the number of calories from fat is close to the number of calories total, that food is likely not very good for you, because it means that the majority of calories come from fats.
• The dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium and iron are better for your body. You should make it a goal to get enough of these nutrients.
• The footnote at the bottom of the label specifies that the percent daily values in nutrition label are based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet.
• The percent daily values, listed to the far right of each nutrient in the food, are the daily value recommendations for that nutrient.

For more information about reading nutrition labels, visit the FDA website.

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