92 Unit 2 Nutrition and Food Choices
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
The % Daily Values can be used to evaluate the overall nutritional qual-
ity of a food. Some of the nutrients listed on the label, such as dietary fi ber
and calcium, are benefi cial. Greater % Daily Values for these benefi cial nu-
trients indicate better nutritional value of the food. Other nutrients, such
as saturated fat and sodium, should be limited so lower % Daily Values are
desirable. Use the following guidelines to interpret % Daily Values:
• 5% or less is low—aim for this when eating total fat, saturated fat,
trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium
• 20% or more is high—aim for this when eating dietary fi ber, cal-
cium, iron, and vitamins A and C
Servings
When you are reading Nutrition Facts labels, remember to check the
number of servings provided in the container fi rst. The amount and %
Daily Value of nutrients are based on a single serving size, but people of-
ten consume more than just a single serving. For example, if the package
contains two servings and you consume the entire package, then you have
consumed twice the number of calories and nutrients reported in the Nu-
trition Facts label.
Can you guess how many servings are in a pint of ice cream? Many
people would guess one 2-cup serving or two 1-cup servings. Ice cream
manufacturers, however, describe a pint of ice cream as four ½-cup serv-
ings. This means that the calories listed for a single serving of ice cream
from a one pint container refl ect only one-fourth of the container.
Recommended Macronutrient
Proportions by Age
The recommended ranges (at right)
for the percentage of calories from protein,
carbohydrates, and fat in a diet were established
by the Institutes of Medicine. Total calories vary
among individuals based on a number of factors
including age, gender, height, weight, and level of
physical activity.
Analyzing Data
1. According to this table, which age group has
the highest recommended percentage of
calories from protein?
2. Based on these recommendations, do two-
year-olds need the same number of calories
per day from carbohydrates as 19-year-olds?
Explain your answer.
Health across the Life Span
Total Calories
Age Group % Carbohydrate % Protein % Fat
young
children
(1 to 3 years of
age)
45–65% 5–20% 30–40%
older children
and adolescents
(4 to 18 years of
age)
45–65% 10–30% 25–35%
adults
(19 years of age
and older)
45–65% 10–35% 20–
35%