Does the nutrition label seem like a confusing chart filled with a foreign language to you? I recently decided to learn more about how to read the nutrition label and discovered it's not as hard as it may seem.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires a boxed nutrition label on almost all packaged food and beverage items. I wanted to learn more about nutrition labels so I could eat healthier and understand what I was putting into my body. 

I have found the more I read food labels, the better I am at quickly comparing options and making healthy choices. Here are the main things I look for when shopping:

1. Serving size.
The first part of the nutrition label states the serving size. This is so important to know. The item might appear healthy, but if you're eating the whole box and that equates to multiple servings, your diet can take an unhealthy nosedive. For example, if I'm buying crackers and the serving size is 15, that probably seems about right for what I would eat for a snack.

2. Calories.
The next part helps me keep my calorie count on track. The nutrition label states calories per serving size and how many of those calories come from fat content. Remember, if you think you'll eat two servings rather than one, double this amount when planning your daily diet.

3. Nutrients.
Next is the list of nutrients in the product. This includes things like fat, sodium, fiber, sugar, protein and various vitamins. This is the bulk of the nutrition label. When picking out products, I typically try to limit options with high levels of saturated or trans fat, salt and cholesterol. I have a sweet tooth so I like sugar, but try to enjoy it in moderation. I love when items have high levels of protein because they keep me satisfied. Take a look at the label on RightSize Smoothies and see how packed it is with nutrients.

4. Daily values.
The last part of the label I use infrequently, but it is still valuable to reference if needed. This is a reminder that the label is based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet and offers some information about your daily calorie needs based on that amount. If you're a man, you might be eating more than 2,000 calories a day. If you're dieting, you might be eating less, so this is a general reference point.