Three Off the Shelf
Read three food labels. Record what they say. Notice what the front leaves out.
Find a phrase to investigate.
Check servings and ingredients.
This one works best on paper. Print the worksheet below, grab a pen, and open the cupboard. The PDF edition is also available above.
Where to look
Try it with three packages. Work through one at a time, then see the notes together.
Take a closer look
Use three packaged foods from the cupboard. Copy the label; leave anything not found blank.
Here’s what I noticed
These are the notes from the labels, with no score or ranking.
Your summary is ready. Review your notes, then print them or copy them below.
Next time: Turn a package over before deciding what its front-of-pack phrase means.
Print or share your notes
Print your completed worksheet, or copy your notes to share in a message or document.
For the intended two-page worksheet, choose Letter paper and 100% or Actual Size.
Your answers stay on this device and are not submitted, stored or emailed. NuStart records anonymous counts only: activity views, starts, completions, copying, edits after the summary, and print requests, so we can improve this resource.
Interactive questions are unavailable in this view. Use the printable worksheet to continue.
Download the PDFWhat the label says
This is a paper worksheet. Print the page to fill it in by hand. On a small screen, swipe across the table to see all three packages.
Download the PDFOriginal compact PDF edition. Use the print button for this illustrated version.
Copy what is printed. One column per package. Nothing to score.
| From the label | Package one | Package two | Package three |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | |||
| Serving size | |||
| Servings per container | |||
| First ingredient | |||
| Ingredients in all |
Three lines to finish
Pick any one of your three packages and finish these on the sheet:
Copy a phrase from the front of the package, word for word.
Now turn it over: what do the panel and the ingredient list say about that phrase?
The thing I did not know before I looked.
Where-to-look guidance follows the FDA’s How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label; ingredient order follows 21 CFR 101.4(a)(1).
Wellness education, not medical advice. For questions about your health, medications, or a condition you manage, discuss it with your primary care provider.