Food packaging is full of catchy marketing buzzwords like “all natural,” “low fat,” or “gut friendly.” But these front-of-pack claims don’t always tell the whole story.
If you want to know what is truly in your food, you need to look at the back. Here is a dietitian’s quick, practical guide to reading the actual nutrition information panel and ingredient list so you can make confident, healthy choices.
1. Watch Out for the “Serving Size” Trap
Manufacturers often list unrealistically small serving sizes on the front or top of the packet to make numbers like calories, fat, or sugar look deceptively low.
Dietitian’s Tip: Skip the “per serving” column and head straight for the “Per 100g” (or 100mL) column. Comparing products per 100g gives you an accurate, like-for-like comparison between different brands regardless of their chosen serving size.
2. Decode the Sugar Matrix
Sugar isn’t always listed simply as “sugar.” It often hides behind more than 50 different names on Australian food labels, including:
- Maltodextrin
- Rice syrup or brown rice malt
- Fruit juice concentrate
- Agave nectar, glucose, or dextrose
Where to check: Look at the ingredient list. Ingredients are always ordered by weight, from highest to lowest. If any form of sugar sits in the top three or four ingredients, the product is heavily sweetened.
3. Find the Fibre for Gut Health
Fibre is essential for keeping your digestion happy, maintaining steady energy levels throughout the day, and supporting overall wellness—especially as we age or manage chronic health conditions.
- What to look for: Choose packaged goods that offer more than 5g of fibre per 100g.
Mobile Dietitian Services in Perth: Accessible Nutrition Support
Navigating diet and nutrition doesn’t have to be overwhelming—or require a trip to a clinic. U&A Homecare provides comprehensive mobile dietetics support for individuals aged 9 years and up across the Perth metropolitan area.
Funding & Billing Options
Whether you are managing a chronic condition or working toward personalized disability goals, we offer accessible options tailored to your needs:
- Medicare Bulk-Billing Available: Our mobile dietitian support services can be bulk-billed under Medicare (with a GP Chronic Disease Management plan). Note: Mobile dietetics visits operate under Medicare funding, DVA, or Private Health Insurance (a travel fee applies).
- NDIS Dietetics Support: We are a Registered NDIS Provider delivering tailored dietetic care for autism and all disabilities, supporting sensory-related food aversion, PDA profiles, and participant-led goals.
Refer a Participant or Book an Appointment Today
Take the guesswork out of nutrition and health management with compassionate, in-home care in Perth.
- 📞 Call Us: 08 6144 6273
