I do not think you need yet another guide on how to read food labels - there is no shortage of information on this subject - or maybe, if you are like me - you do not like to read food labels.

Reading food labels is not fun. It could be tedious and time consuming. When I am doing my food shopping - I just want to get my food – I do not always have the time to stand there and read dozens of food labels.

But I do know what I want and what I do not want in my food. I also would like to know if the claims made on food packaging are true.

You know what I am talking about – “Great Source of Fiber� – “No Added Sugar� – “Rich in Whole Grains� – food manufacturers know how to get your attention.

They can make the claims, but they are also required to list ingredients in a specific order. The first ingredient listed on a food label is predominant in a given food.

If it says “Rich in Whole Grains� - but the first ingredient listed is corn syrup – you know that in fact, this product is reach in sugar - rather than whole grains.

Still, knowing how to read food labels is important. Food labels contain other useful information, such as the serving size, the amount of calories, carbohydrates, fat, etc.

However, all that other information might be irrelevant, if a product you are interested in does not contain what you want. The good news is – a 5-second glance at the list of ingredients – quickly separates the “chaff from the wheat�.