Facts on Nutrition Labels for Kids

The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act was introduced in 1990, making it a legal requirement for products to detail nutritional information on the packaging. Many products, particularly those aimed at kids, provide misleading information to make it seem like a healthier choice. A survey conducted by the British Heart Foundation found that 90 percent of parents misunderstood the nutritional information on children's foods. Understand the nutritional needs of your child and always read the small print on food packaging; don't be misled by bold claims such as "free from artificial colors and flavors" -- this does not indicate a healthy product.

Nutritional Labels

• "Nutritional Information" or "Nutritional Facts" labels are mandatory on food packaging. Manufacturers are required to present the facts regarding certain nutrients, vitamins and minerals deemed to be the most coherent with the most important health issues. These are calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, total carbohydrate, fiber, sugars, protein, vitamins A and C, calcium and iron. Other nutritional data may be provided at the manufacturer's discretion.

Your Child's Needs

• Nutritional facts labels often detail the percentage of the daily recommended allowance (RDA) for each nutritional component. This is set at a 2,000-calorie diet, recommended for the average woman in order to maintain her current weight and body composition. Depending on the age and sex of your child, her needs are likely to be considerably different. Use an "RDA for Children" chart, as provided in the resources section, to identify the individual nutritional needs of your child.

Serving Size

• Values on nutritional facts labels often are displayed in terms of 100 grams of product, and/or serving size. It is important to take note of the serving size your child is consuming in order to work out his nutritional intake from that product. For example, a typical serving size of cereal as detailed on the average cereal box, ranges from 30 to 50 grams. A growing teenager, however, is likely to consume at least double this portion size with each serving. The nutritional data provided would therefore need to be doubled to calculate the nutritional intake.

Foods Without Labels

• Nutritional information may not be available for all foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables, or meat. Buy a nutritional data resource book or use an internet nutrition database, as provided in the resources section of this article, to find nutritional facts for these products.