Contents:
- Medical Video: 18 Harmful Foods We Keep Giving to Children
- 1. Pay attention to the product packaging
- 2. See product expiration dates
- 3. Read the nutritional value information on the packaging
- 4. See the ingredients contained in the product
- 5. Read nutritional claims on product labels
Medical Video: 18 Harmful Foods We Keep Giving to Children
Packaged foods are unconsciously part of the food we eat everyday. Starting from snacks, soft drinks, canned food, instant food, and so forth. When you go to a supermarket or minimarket, almost everything available is packaged food. Attractive packaging also encourages you to buy it. However, do not carelessly buy packaged foods. You need to pay attention to the things below before deciding to buy packaged foods.
1. Pay attention to the product packaging
Before deciding to buy. The first thing you should pay attention to is product packaging. Check the product packaging, is there damage or is the packaging defective? Make sure the product you are buying is still packaged in a good form. If there is little damage to the packaging, you should choose another package that is better.
2. See product expiration dates
It is important to know whether the packaged food you are buying is still feasible to use or not, especially for frozen products. Even if you buy packaged food in a large supermarket, it doesn't hurt if you check the expiration date again. If you plan to not directly use the packaged food, knowing the expiration date is also useful to know when you should have used it. If the usage time is more than the expiration date, the food or beverage product packaging is damaged or not suitable for use.
3. Read the nutritional value information on the packaging
Knowing how many calories, fat, carbohydrates, proteins and other nutritional content contained in food products or drinks that you consume is very important. This makes it easy for you to find out whether the nutrients you have obtained are sufficient, still lacking, or have exceeded your needs. When viewing nutritional value information, here are a few things you should know:
- Amount of dish per package. This is the first thing you should know. Not all packaged foods have 1 serving (or 1 serving) per package. In fact, usually the nutritional value listed is for 1 serving. So, if in one package there are 2 servings, then you have to multiply the calories (or other nutrients) with 2 servings when you spend the packaged food.
- Calories. When looking at nutritional value, you will see several types of calories. However, you can simply look at the total calories contained in packaged foods. It is important to know how many calories have entered your body from one of these packaged foods. That way, you can maintain the number of calories that enter your body.
- Carbohydrates, fiber, and sugar. It is important for you to know the number of these three types of content in packaged foods, especially if you have type 2 diabetes. So, not only calories and fat are the focus of your attention when buying packaged foods.
- Fat and cholesterol. In nutritional value information, usually various types of fat are listed in one food or beverage package. The most important thing you notice is saturated fat. Within a day, you are advised to consume saturated fat no more than 10% of total calories.
- Protein. Nutrition is no less important for you to pay attention to in every packaged food you eat. Within a day, at least you have to get as much as 10-35% of your total daily calories.
- Sodium. This content is always present in every packaged food. Sodium is a substance that the body needs. However, if too much in the body, sodium is also not good because it can increase your blood pressure. In a day, you can only get sodium (salt) as much as 2300 mg (about 1 teaspoon).
4. See the ingredients contained in the product
In addition to nutritional value, the ingredients contained in packaged foods must also be considered. A list of ingredients can illustrate the food or beverage packaging you consume. You can also see the types of preservatives and dyes contained in packaged foods. So, if you have a problem with one type of preservative or dye, you can avoid it. You can also assess the quality of the product from the ingredients it contains.
5. Read nutritional claims on product labels
Don't be fooled by the nutritional claims printed on the packaging of food or beverage products. Some of the nutritional claims you read may be misinterpreted, for example:
- "Cholesterol-free" or "low cholesterol" claims on foods from vegetable sources, such as margarine and oil, have no meaning. All foods from vegetable sources contain very little cholesterol (almost none). However, it can contain high fat so that it can cause weight gain if consumed in excess.
- If the product claims 93% fat free, maybe the product really contains fat by 7%. To make sure, you should read the nutritional value information in the packaging. Compare also with your fat requirements per day.
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