Are Calories The First Item You Notice?

Whether consciously or not, people often focus on calories when making decisions about what to eat.  In recent years government regulation has mandated that calories be written in larger, bolder font, which seems to downplay the importance of other items on the nutritional labels and the list of ingredients. But considering where calories come from and the nutritional benefits of those calories, rather than just their total amount, will create better health outcomes. At Read The Ingredients, we want to help you become more aware of what you are putting into your body. And, when it comes to calories, you should focus on quality rather than quantity. Whether you’re looking for a nutritious breakfast or lunch, or healthy energy bars to fuel you when you’re on the go, we hope that you’ll read the ingredients first!

So, what should you look for when you read the ingredients and nutrition facts for a prepared or packaged food item?  Consider the following:

Carbohydrates

Do carbohydrate grams come from whole sources such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, or from refined grains and added sugars?  While sugar may enhance the taste of food, the calories it provides offer little in the way of nutritional benefit and too much may even cause disease.

Fats

Fats are an essential nutrient in our diet, yet not all fats are equally healthful.  To benefit most from the fat we take in, limit foods high in cholesterol and saturated fats, which have a negative impact on heart health, and focus on incorporating monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids.

Protein

Protein is crucial for cellular function, including muscle growth and satiety.  However, the source of the protein we consume will determine its positive and negative health impacts.

Read the Ingredients

We want every day to be the best it can be for you, and that’s why we’ve made it our mission to create healthy meal and snack options made with all-natural, quality ingredients. The next time you feel hunger coming on, we hope you will read the ingredients first so you can make an educated choice about what you eat and understand that counting calories does not correlate to healthy eating. Considering the entire nutritional breakdown of a food will help you make more effective food choices that benefit your immediate and overall health. Just take a look at our healthy energy bars compared to other popular breakfast and lunch foods and you’ll see the difference!  

Nutrition Comparison of RTI Banana Nut Loaf vs. Other “Healthy” Breakfast and Lunch Foods

Nutrition Comparison of RTI Chocolate Chip Big Bite vs. Other “Healthy” Snack Foods

Make a Better Choice

In a world full of food products disguised as being healthy, we hope that you’ll stop and take the time to learn more about them before making a choice. Looking for low-sugar, healthy energy bars made with real food ingredients and none of the things you don’t want like gluten, added sweeteners, or preservatives? Shop Read the Ingredients to learn more about our ingredients and to place your order for any of our delicious, nutritionally-rich loaves and big bites. Fuel your body with a better choice that you can feel good about. Order yours today!