How should I read food labels if I want to eat healthy?

If you want to eat healthy, understand what food labels are really saying. Most food products contain marketing ploys on the front of the package that are designed to catch your eye. They may claim to be "whole grain" and "trans fat-free," but when you read the ingredients listed on the back of the package, you may find that high-fructose corn syrup is listed as the first ingredient, whole grain flour as the last, and that the food is filled with partially hydrogenated oils. Keep in mind that the first ingredient listed is the one that is most abundant within the product, so if junk precedes quality, this food is not a healthy choice. Also, be aware that partially and fully hydrogenated oils are rich sources of trans fat and that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows food manufacturers to market a product as being trans fat-free if there is less than 0.5 grams per serving. So if you eat more than one serving, you're consuming unknown amounts of these unhealthy fats.