Use the nutrition facts table on store-bought products to help you choose healthier options. Using the percent daily value (% DV) can help you choose products that are lower in sodium, sugars and saturated fats. Anything with 5% DV or less is considered “a little” of that particular nutrient, while anything with 15% DV or more is considered “a lot.”

Check the list of ingredients as well. A food contains more of the ingredients found at the beginning of the list, and less of the ingredients at the end of the list. In the ingredient list you can look for particular ingredients who want to get more of, such as whole grains, or get less of, such as sugars. You can also look for allergens in the ingredient list. For more information see, How to use food labels to make healthier choices, from Health Canada.