Off and on, I see the need to reset my weight back to a lower one after a long period of time. Recently, I have been back using Weight Watchers to bring my weight back to where I want it. One of the key ingredients of any weight loss program is to eat better. Eating better, many times, is determined by the nutritional information given on the packages of food that is eaten.
The madness comes when the nutritional information provided is frustrating. Today, I bought some microwave popcorn for a Friday night snack. The serving size? 2 Tablespoons of unpopped popcorn. Really? The nutritional information is for kernels? Not only just kernels—try kernels inside a sealed microwave bag. Each bag contains “about 2.5 servings”. You’ve got to be kidding me!! How can I make a decision on that? That is more frustrating than the prepackaged noodle bowls, where the nutritional information is for one serving. Included in the pack? Two. Who splits up their noodle bowl after it has been watered, heated, set, and spiced? No one.
So, why don’t companies use their brain to think through how the nutritional information is used? Honestly, I don’t think they even care. Or if they do care, these companies intentionally want to make the nutritional information as useless as possible—or as small as possible—so that this information cannot be used against them. Either way, I am always frustrated when I try to get good information and what I get has to be “interpreted”.
The warning is to watch the labels of many of the foods out there. You never know when the producers may want to get creative in how they provide their information. Everything is healthy when you only eat 2 tables spoons.
(Chart: FDA.GOV)