Nutrition Labels
When reading a nutrition label, this tells you how much food the nutrition information is based on.
Serving size
This macronutrient helps build and repair muscle.
Protein
This mineral is important for bone health, muscle function, and teeth & nerve function. Key sources include dairy products and green leafy vegetables.
Calcium
This professional is the credentialed expert in food and nutrition.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN)
Plant foods can provide protein.
Fact
If a snack has 100 calories and 2.5 servings, how many calories if you eat the whole thing?
250 calories
This macronutrient helps absorb vitamins and supports brain and nerve function.
Fat
Deficiency in this mineral causes a type of anemia, leading to low hemoglobin and oxygen transport issues.
Iron
Food sources are organ meats, lean red meat, shellfish, beans, lentils, pumpkin seeds, spinach, and fortified cereals.
Anyone can call themselves this, but it is not a regulated credential.
Nutritionst
Registered dietitians only work in healthcare settings like hospitals or clinics.
Myth
Dietitians also work in schools, sports teams, research, public health, food companies, private practice, and many other settings.
These foods usually do not have a Nutrition Facts label.
Hint: they are often sold without packaging.
Fresh foods (such as fruits and vegetables)
This type of carbohydrate cannot be digested, but it plays a significant role in digestion, heart health, and overall well-being.
Fiber
Excess of this mineral raises blood pressure. Found in deli meat, many processed snacks, canned soups and frozen meals.
Sodium (salt)
Starting in 2024, this level of degree became required to become a registered dietitian.
Master’s degree requirement
Everyone should take a vitamin or mineral supplement.
Myth
For most people, nutrient needs should be obtained through food sources. When a person’s diet is lacking in certain foods and nutrients, a vitamin or mineral supplement may be required. There are also higher requirements in some cases, such as during pregnancy or with a diagnosed deficiency. Always check with a health care provider before taking a dietary supplement.
This tells you the percentage of a nutrient you get in one serving based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Percent Daily Value (%DV)
What are the building blocks of protein?
Amino acids
Known as the "sunshine vitamin," this vitamin is produced when skin is exposed to UVB rays, playing a vital role in bone health, immune function, and disease prevention.
Vitamin D
Dietary sources include fatty fish (salmon), fortified milk/yogurt, cereal, and supplements.
Dietitians complete about this many hours of supervised internship practice.
About 1,200 hours
Reading labels helps you avoid excess sodium and added sugars while ensuring you get key nutrients for growth
Name three things listed on a Nutrition Facts label that you may want to limit.
Sodium, saturated fat, added sugar, trans fat, cholesterol
Combining foods like rice and beans can create this type of protein.
Complete protein (contains all 9 essential amino acids our body cannot produce)
This mineral helps regulate fluid balance, muscle function, and blood pressure.
Potassium
Potassium-rich foods include fruits (bananas, apricots, cantaloupe), vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, leafy greens), and legumes (beans, lentils).
Becoming a dietitian typically takes about this many years of education and training.
About 6–8 years
Eggs contain saturated fat, hence should be avoided.
Myth