Food labels allow you to make educated decisions about the foods you choose for you and your family. They also help you to compare different products found in supermarkets. As a kidney patient, reading and understanding food labels can assist you in making the right food choices for your special diet needs.
 
 The Food Label incorporates:

• Serving Size - The average amount or portion size a person eats at one time.
• Servings Per Container - The number of servings a package of food contains.
• Amount Per Serving - The number of nutrients and calories for each serving of food. These nutrients include the following: total calories, calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate and protein. Food labels may also list additional nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus.
• Percent Daily Values - This section provides the percentage of total nutrients for one serving. The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
• Ingredient List - Lists the ingredients in order from greatest to least. Some foods may list phosphorus as an ingredient even though it is not listed elsewhere in the food label. 

This article originally appeared in the July 2003 issue of aakpRENALIFE, Vol. 19, No. 1.

This article originally appeared in the March 2008 issue of AAKP Diet Tips & Bits.