what 200 calories looks like

Always read the label. It’s a good lesson in being a wise consumer, but it can also make the difference between staying lean and developing a case of type-2 diabetes. Food marketers are sneaky people, and labels on the front of the package can give a very healthy look to a food product which, on the reverse, is labeled clearly as complete and utter junk food. How do you know if it’s junk? Read the back, not the front.

When in doubt, if it comes in a box, tube, bag or “pack,” there is a good chance it’s junk. 

Healthy foods from the produce, dairy and meat sections are not always labeled with calorie contents or portion recommendations, but you can do 2 things to educate yourself:

• eat slowly and pay attention to when you start to feel full, so you can get an accurate idea of what portions you individually require at meals
• learn about appropriate portion sizes – no measuring cups required – so you can serve yourself healthfully

Wisegeek did a round up of various foods – a visual map of what 200 calories can look like.

A good lesson here? You get a lot more chew for your 2oo calories when you choose real foods.

Another good lesson?Many of the junk foods pictured are partial-servings. Watch processed food labels. A bottle of pop may indicate a serving contains only 130 calories; however, the bottle contains 2 servings – your total consumed? 260 calories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be wary! Choose real foods. When you don’t or can’t choose healthfully, understand the impact by learning about portions & food labels.