1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Pediatrics

Reading Food Labels

By , About.com Guide

Updated January 24, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

8 of 9

Percent Daily Value

Percent Daily Value

Percent Daily Value

Vincent Iannelli, MD
Understanding the Percent Daily Values on a food label can help you choose foods that are high in good nutrients and low in bad nutrients.

Remember that 5% DV or less is low and 20% DV or more is high for a food component. So for things like fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, or sodium, look for foods with a low % DV. For these nutrients, you should try to eat less than the 100% DV.

And look for a high % DV for 'good things,' like dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. You should be eating at least the 100% DV for these nutrients.

One thing to consider is that the % DV is based on a 2,000 calorie diet, which is the average energy needs for a child that is 7-10 years old. So for your older children and teens, they will likely need more than 100% DV.

Also remember that the Percent Daily Values are listed for a single serving, so if you eat two servings, you should double %DV. For this food label, you can see that eating two servings provides your kids with almost 80% of their Percent Daily Value of sodium!

Explore Pediatrics
About.com Special Features

8 Ways to Cut Drug Costs

Learn how to save money on medications with these recommendations. More >

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Pediatrics
  4. Parenting Advice
  5. Nutrition
  6. Percent Daily Value

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.