What's in Your Food?

How much added sugar?

  • For every 4 grams of sugar on a food label there is 1 teaspoon of sugar in the food (fruit is one exception and is okay because it is natural sugar ac-companied with fiber and other nutrients)
  • Some tea and soda beverages contain 5 teaspoons per cup - but they often come in containers that are 2 or more cups - if you look at our picture you will see you get 10 teaspoons of sugar per bottle of tea!

What about excess salt?

  • Read the labels of foods that are in boxes, cans, the grocer’s freezer, jars, the deli - any prepared food.
  • Every 500 mg of sodium is equal to about a quarter teaspoon or one third of a day’s supply for most people.

How much fat?

  • Read the nutrition facts label for prepared foods and restaurant/fast food meals (find those online).
  • For every 4.6 grams of fat you eat, you consume about a teaspoon of fat.
Print Friendly and PDF
Stephanie Ronco

Stephanie Ronco has been editing for Food and Health Communications since 2011. She graduated from Colorado College magna cum laude with distinction in Comparative Literature. She was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 2008.

Previous
Previous

Manage Stress and Practice Mindful Eating

Next
Next

Buy Red: A Closer Look at Anthocyanins