Be Informed Be Healthy

Nutrition labels are taking the guesswork out of making healthier choices when eating out. While it's probably no surprise that a bacon double cheeseburger isn't the healthiest item on the menu, it may come as a shock that items like salads and smoothies can be even higher in saturated fat and calories. How many of us would guess that a chicken caesar salad could have more than 800 calories? That's more calories than a 6-inch steak and cheese sub sandwich.

Many of us eat a third of our calories, and spend nearly half of our food budget on meals eaten away from home. As of January 1st, nutrition labels in chain restaurants provide the information we all need to make healthier food choices. This information is especially important to people who are trying to manage their weight or chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease by limiting their intake of fat, sodium, calories or carbohydrates.

"Be Informed Be Healthy" is a public education campaign aimed at getting chain restaurant customers to read menu labels and make healthier choices. By encouraging people to understand their own calorie needs and choosing healthier, lower calorie choices in chain restaurants, the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease is lowered.

To make sense of the new nutrition labels, it's important to remember that 2000 calories a day is what's recommended in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To make nutrition labels more useful, Public Health - Seattle & King County is airing public service announcements and distributing education materials through community partners and its Healthy Eating website:

• FM Radio Spot Public Service Announcements:
  English (MP3)
  Spanish/Español (MP3)
  
  
• Nutrition labeling information for restaurant staff

Nutrition Labeling Educational Toolkit

The Nutrition Labeling Educational Toolkit provides information and activities appropriate for people of all ages:

• The Fast Food Challenge is a game designed to be a simple and interactive way to teach families about the calorie needs of children and the calorie content in fast food. The game can be used in a variety of settings, including WIC or other nutrition classes, at health fairs, and in school classrooms.
• The posters and flyers focus on making healthier choices when eating out and support our nutrition labeling media campaign launched in early 2009.

Fast Food Challenge Cards	Fast Food Challenge Worksheets	Be Informed Be Healthy Flyer
Fast Food Challenge Board	Be Informed Be Healthy Poster	Folleto: "Estar Informado Es Estar Sano" "Be Informed Be Healthy" flyer (Spanish)

Learn about your nutrition and fitness needs

• My Fats Translator - American Heart Association
  Determine your calorie needs (ages 3 and older) based on height, weight and activity level. Also get tips for making healthier food choices.

Other useful links

MyPyramid.gov (USDA)
Personalized eating plans, and interactive tools and advice to help you plan and assess your food choices.


American Heart Association
Healthy lifestyle tips to prevent obesity, heart disease and stroke.


American Dietetic Association, eating habits
Tips to improve eating habits and achieve a healthy lifestyle.


American Diabetes Association, managing diabetes
Resources to manage diabetes include a calorie and carbohydrate tracking tool.


QUIZ: What's your nutrition IQ? (Washington Post)

You can find more information and resources, including calorie and fitness calculators, on Public Health's Healthy Eating website.