How to Teach Kids to Read a Food Label

Look at the serving size on the box of cereal.

Give your child a measuring cup to measure out out a serving size of the cereal. This will familiarize your child with what a serving size looks like.

Discuss with the child the difference between calories and fats. Examples of things you can tell the child are that you need calories and fats to survive and they can be very positive when eaten correctly. They give the body energy and endurance, along with carbohydrates. When a food has more calories, carbohydrates and fat than a body burn can within a day they then cause weight gain.

Ask the child to locate calories and fat on the nutrition label.

Tell your child what saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol and sugars are, such as these items are bullies to the body because they take away nutritional value and cause weight gain, and they should be eaten in small amounts or avoided when possible.

Ask your child to locate saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol and sugars on the nutrition label and to read out the percentages of each to determine if the amount included in the cereal is small or large.

Discuss with your child vitamins, fiber and minerals. These items are heroes to the body, giving the child strength as well as helping the body to function properly.

Ask the child to locate the amount of vitamins, fiber and minerals within one serving. The daily values section of the food label can give you a good idea of how much of the daily vitamins and minerals the child is getting with this serving size, but keep in mind these percentages are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Read the list of ingredients of the cereal together, saying out loud whether each item is health or not. For items you don't know, look them up to educate yourself and your child about them and find out the effects these items can have on the body.