Nutrition Labels question

[Shad's stepmom]

Ok, I know how to read a label and see how many grams of carbs something has in it...been doing that for years but until I started caring for a child with T1 diabetes I never noticed that when it is a packaged mixed food, like macaroni and cheese for example, that it doesn't specify if the carb count is with the milk added or not.

Out to the right of the carb grams it has a percentage which rises from 7% to 9% on a mac n cheese package...even more on others. I've been dividing the milk or whatever by however many servings the package makes then adding the extra carbs to the carb total of each serving. Is that as clear as muddy water or wha??? lol Anyway am I doing this right??? Or is the package total carb count correct with the additions of milk or whatever that the package calls for?

Ok say a package says it has total carbohydrates of 22g per serving, 5 servings per package. BUT you have to add 2 cups of milk. Does that 22 g account for the milk or should I divide the carbs of the milk by 5 and add that to the 22g?

I've been doing the latter.

Also if a package says per serving is 1/3 of the mix but makes 5 cups prepared and each serving is a cup??? Umm What????

Sorry but sometimes this seems to get more confusing everyday. I keep waiting for my ' light bulb' moment but I think mine has a short lol.

[danismom79]

I don't look at the percentage at all. I total the number of carbs in the whole package, add whatever other ingredients to that, and divide by how many servings I get out of it. I believe the carbs they give you is for the unprepared mix. It's been working for us.

But a note: macaroni and cheese gives a lot of people problems with fat spikes. The fat slows down digestion of the carbs, so the numbers can look ok 2 hours after the meal, and then soar an hour or two (or more) after that.

[Shad's stepmom]

Thanks danismom...that is exactly what I needed to know. I've been doing it like you said...going by package then adding the extra carbs from milk or what have you and it seems to be working, just wanted to be sure. And no worries...mac n cheese only happens around here about 1 time a week and only 1/2 cup at that. So far it doesn't seem to affect him too badly. However I have been reading a couple of threads about fat and how it slows absorption so now I gotta revamp and see if that might possible have anything to do with his fluctuating levels. I try to keep the fat down cuz well...I surely don't need it :rolleyes:. So much to learn...so few brain cells left :p.

[twodoor2]

Here's a decent article that explains how to read labels. It's geared toward low carbers, but it give good general advice on basic label reading.

I alway subtract "dietary fiber" from the carbohydrate count since fiber is undigestable and therefore does not raise blood sugar. For example, we eat a multi-grain bread that is 21 carbs, and 6 of those are fiber. Therefore, I would dose for 15 grams of carbs when giving that bread.

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/nutrition/ss/nutritionlabels_5.htm

[Shad's stepmom]

Thx twodoor2 :).

And we also subtract dietary fiber carbs but only if there are 5 or more per serving per Shad's nutritionist.

I just wasn't sure about foods that require you to add an ingredient which contains carbs such as milk. I wasn't sure if the carbs in the milk were accounted for in the total carbs on the package. As far as I can tell..you have to add in the extra carbs as the package only accounts for it's own carbs and not those it asks you to add.

[StillMamamia]

Just a note to say that I believe the % values are the Daily Recommended allowances based on a 2,000 calorie daily meal.

[Karenwith4]

Totally aside - The RDA is also the minimum amount needed to prevent disease - not the optimal amounts for good health which I didn't realize until I started researching supplements for Em. I wish they would also put a DRI (daily recommended intake) amount for some of the major vitamins and minerals.