“Facts Up Front” Make Grocery Shopping Simple

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Facts Up Front program.

 

There is no question that the United States has a love/hate relationship with food. We love to eat, but we hate what it’s doing to us – obesity, sickness and other ailments plague our bodies. Our busy lifestyles have us eating out more, and going to the grocery less. We spend more time on Facebook then we do reading the nutrition panels on the back of the foods we buy. The average person spends only 41 minutes in the grocery store each week, and that includes the check out line! 

To educate and help us make more healthful decisions the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) started a national consumer education campaign to boost awareness and understanding – using “Facts Up Front”. The nutrient-based labeling system is supported by national advertising campaign to further educate consumers on the initiative and help them make informed food decisions for their families. Facts Up Front is the most significant reform on food and beverage labeling in more than 20 years! Products bearing the Facts Up Frontare already in the stores, and many large food manufacturers have rolled out packages featuring Facts Up Front, including Nestle, Post Foods, Ocean Spray, PepsiCo, Campbell’s, General Mills, Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, Kraft, and Heinz.  Retailers including Kroger, Hy-Vee and Wegmans are also implementing Facts Up Front on their store brands.

The Facts Up Front are based on nutrition science and are straight from the Nutrition Facts Panel that you’re used to seeing on the side or back of food packages – but now just easier to read. The Facts Up Front labels show calories per serving, and information on three nutrients to limit in the diet: saturated fat, sodium and sugar. Here’s some things to look for:

More nutrients needed for good health. Look for potassium, fiber, calcium, protein, iron and vitamins A, C and D in Facts Up Front labels.

Lower saturated fat. Choose oils for cooking and lean cuts of your favorite meats. Stick with low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and eat seafood a few times a week.

Less sodium. Use Facts Up Front to help identify products with lower amounts of sodium. Try the reduced sodium or no-salt-added versions of your favorite foods, and use more herbs and spices in your cooking to add flavor.

Less sugar. To satisfy your sweet tooth, eat fruits for snacks and/or dessert. Drink water when you’re thirsty.

Calories that help you meet your daily target. Use the Facts Up Front nutrition calculator to determine your daily calorie needs, and check theFacts Up Front label.

Facts Up Front has resources available on their website to help you as a consumer, make more healthful and informed decisions when it comes to grocery shopping. The website provides educational tools and resources to help increase your knowledge and understand your individual nutritional needs, and be able to put it to use when grocery shopping.  

Nutrition Calculator – The Nutrition Calculator easily helps people determine their estimated daily nutrient needs for themselves and their family members in order to maintain a wholesome diet and weight. By submitting five simple questions, the calculator provides caloric intake, along with the suggested amounts of daily nutrients needed for each day, including fiber, protein and Vitamin C.

Interactive Label – The Interactive Label goes into full detail of each nutrient featured on Facts Up Front and how they can play a role in a beneficial diet. Each nutrient provides additional information and how it impacts our diet.

Nutrition Quiz – The Interactive Quiz allows nutrition novices and savvy shoppers alike to test their skills in identifying opportunities where they can learn more about building a nutritious diet.

Shopping and Meal Planning Tips – The Shopping and Meal Planning Tips on the website provide advice from registered dietitians to help Americans overcome common obstacles to creating well-rounded meals from the grocery cart to the dinner table.

Recipes – The recipes available through the Facts Up Front website offer ideas for easy, delicious dishes made with products bearing the Facts Up Front label. There are also sections for vegetarians, gluten-free diets, and quick and easy recipes that the family will enjoy. 

This is just a few of the great resources that Facts Up Front offers – I would recommend that you go check it out for yourself!

Have you noticed the Facts Up Front labels on your favorites? Do you feel the Facts Up Front help you make more informed, healthful decisions for your family??

 

 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Facts Up Front program.