The nutrition label provides information on carbohydrates per serving. It lists the total grams of carbohydrates and notes that sugars are included in this total. It directs the reader to ignore the separate listing for sugars. The label also includes a table to help determine the number of carbohydrate choices or exchanges based on the grams of carbohydrates in a food.

1. Using Nutrition Labels: Carbohydrates
Serving Size
Nutrition Facts Look at the serving size. All the
information on the label is based
Serving Size 1 cup (228g)
on this portion.
Servings Per Container 2
Servings per Container
Amount Per Serving
Calories 260 Calories from Fat 120 The number of servings
contained in the package.
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 20% Guidelines for Carbohydrate
Saturated Fat 5g 25% Look at the total grams of
Cholesterol 30mg 10% carbohydrate in the serving size.
Sodium 660mg 28% 1 carbohydrate choice
Total Carbohydrate 31g 10% = 15 grams of carbohydrate
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Ignore the total grams of sugars.
Sugar 5g
They are included in the total
Protein 5g
grams of carbohydrate.
Vitamin A 4% • Vitamin C 2%
Range of Carbohydrate
Calcium 15% • Iron 4%
Grams Per Choice
* Percent daily values are based on a 2,000
calorie diet. Your daily values may be Carbohydrate Carbohydrate
higher or lower depending on your Grams/Choice Choices
1/2
calorie needs: 6-10
Calories: 2,000 2,500 11-20 1
Total Fat Less 65g 80g 21-25 1 1/2
than
Saturated Less 20g 25g 26-35 2
Fat than 36-40 2 1/2
Cholesterol Less 300mg 300mg 41-50 3
than
51-55 3 1/2
Sodium Less 2400mg 2400mg
than 56-65 4
Total Carbohydrate 300g 375g 66-70 4 1/2
Dietary Fiber 25g 30g 71-80 5
Calories per gram: *If a food has 5 or more grams
Fat 9 • Carbohydrate 4 • Protein 4 of fiber, subtract the total grams
of fiber from the total
carbohydrate before using the
table above.
Source: Reprinted with permission from the International Diabetes
Center, Minneapolis, MN; 2001.