Understanding food labels can help you make smart choices about what you eat. By asking the right questions, you can learn more about what's in your food and help keep your diet balanced. Here are some important questions you should ask:

1. What is the serving size?

   • The serving size tells you how much of the food is considered one portion. This can affect the number of calories and nutrients you're getting. Many people don’t realize that the numbers on the package can be misleading, which can lead to eating too much.

2. How many calories are there?

   • Knowing how many calories are in your food is important. Most adults need about 2,000 to 2,500 calories each day, but this depends on how active they are.

3. How much sugar is in it?

   • The American Heart Association says you should try to keep added sugars to around 6% of your daily calories. For women, that’s about 25 grams, and for men, it's around 36 grams.

4. How much fiber is included?

   • It’s good to eat at least 25 grams of fiber each day for women and 38 grams for men. Sadly, only about 5% of Americans get enough fiber.

5. What about sodium?

   • The FDA recommends that people eat less than 2,300 mg of sodium each day. But on average, Americans consume about 3,400 mg.

By asking these questions, you can make better food choices that help you reach your health goals.