The Food Label and You – FDA

May 19, 2010

This award winning video demonstrates how consumers can quickly and easily use the food label to meet their personal nutritional needs. The viewer is shown how to use the Nutrition Facts panel to make informed food choices, how to compare nutrient content claims without memorizing definitions, how to relate serving size to portion control, and how to use the Percent Daily Value as a reference tool without doing math.

Thanks to: Website: Earbot.com

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{ 71 comments… read them below or add one }

HMH2 May 24, 2011 at 4:15 pm

I enjoyed this video and how the producers tried to clarify some confusion about Nutrition Fact labels. There is a lot of information to decipher on these labels. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the amount of time it takes to compare foods and the Nutrition Facts but it is essential if we want to be educated on what we are feeding ourselves and our families. I liked the little quiz at the end of the video – I learned something that I didn’t know before about the percent daily values.

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ACR2 May 24, 2011 at 2:07 pm

I learned so much about the Food Label. I now can look at products that I buy and figure out my daily value of sugars, proteins, and sodiums. This video was very educational. Their is a application online and on smart phones that you can use to calculate everything you eat in a day. It is very helpfull, and you do not have to carry a pen and paper around with you. I also was skeptical about the labels on the front of products and which one is more healthy.

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aak2 May 26, 2011 at 9:06 pm

I found this video very educational too. I have never looked at any thing besides the calories. I need to find that application on my iPhone. I have one that just counts the caloires but one that counted everything would be pretty helpful too. I started my food record today and carried around a pen and paper, so that application would have helped.

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PEE2 May 28, 2011 at 8:17 am

Hi AAK2 please can you give me the name of the application you are talking about. That will be very interesting to know exactly the informations contained in any food label. In fact , most of our diseases are taking roots from our eat habits. So we can prevent those diseases by respecting the norms established by the FDA. Very instructional video. Nothing to add.

aak2 May 24, 2011 at 12:25 pm

This video was very interesting. I really have never looked at how much other stuff a food product has in it beside the calories. I did not know what the total percent of daily value was until now. Now that I know all this I know what to look for when I go buy things to eat. I usually go on a 1200 calorie diet just eating whatever till I get to 1200 calories but now I know that I need to look for other things besides calories. I definatley need to look at the amount of fat one thing has in it. Especially the pizzas I eat, because I do eat a lot of those.

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wjh2 May 24, 2011 at 11:15 am

Now I know that the nutriention label is actually true. I also know the % on the label is the % of your 100% allowed for the day. Very informative video

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MRC2 Melanie Cottrell May 24, 2011 at 11:03 am

I always look at the food labels when in the store. My kids did get a bit irritated with me at times but now they are looking at the labels as well. One thing I found that I did not realize through watching this video is the Daily percent values. I knew they were there but always overlooked them because I did not understand what they were for. Now I know and it all makes better sense to me. I remember when I was younger and just looked at the calories on the product. I would eat the whole thing and not even think twice. Many people make the mistake of reading the calories and not noticing the serving sizes. Yes, we have to double those calories:( Really, who eats just three cookies?

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C-W March 4, 2011 at 4:06 pm

i have always wondered if the companies could lie on their nutrition lables. I have always stayed concious of the serving size that the nutition lable states, and wondered if anyone actually abides by it, and what do companys go by to detirmine this.

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HMH2 May 24, 2011 at 4:18 pm

I had never thought of that. I know that the marketers stretch the truth when it comes to the packaging and words they use. The packaging can be deceiving. This is why it’s important for us to be educated and to not buy into all of the marketing schemes.

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R-E February 3, 2011 at 5:08 pm

I agree that finding the time to read all the labels on everything I eat is totally impossible. I barely have time to run into the store to pick some bread and milk up

RE

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JM2 May 24, 2011 at 8:48 pm

You must be one of the lucky people that can eat what they want with no consequences. I look at food and gain weight so I force myself to read the labels and make the wisest choice.

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S-M January 30, 2011 at 12:07 am

I have never read the food labels until I watched this video. Now I am aware of exactly I am putting into my body. I am more aware of carbs, and calories, sodium, and even sugar. Knowledge really is the key when trying to diet.

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J-H January 27, 2011 at 11:45 pm

When we go grocery shopping i always see her looking at the back of the package now i know what shes looking at we usually bring home low fat or fat free stuff now i know why. Now if i can only learn portion control i will be on track.

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C-S January 27, 2011 at 12:27 pm

I have started measuring and really paying attention to the food labesl on everything. Trying to loose weight is a hard thing. I have to pay attention to what my patients are eating, and some of their choices, or even what the kitchen sends is out of their diet orders.

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N-T January 26, 2011 at 7:28 pm

these tips were very helpful i will be more aware of wat to really look at when shopping for foods next time

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C-S January 27, 2011 at 12:28 pm

These tips are definately helpful!!!! And to know that we can depend pon that they are factual and not just made up by the manufacturer is a plus too!!!

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C-S January 27, 2011 at 12:29 pm

These are great tips, and to know that the food compaines have to be honest and truthful on their labels because they are controlled by the government is great to know too!

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E-A January 26, 2011 at 5:16 pm

Yay!!!!!!!!!!! i finally know how to read food labels.from now on,i owe it to myself to eat healthy.nice videos.

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MIA January 26, 2011 at 12:20 am

It seems to be very confusing on deciding what all foods are healthy enough. I think it would take three times as long at store to shop by looking at labels. What do the “Healthy People” live on or eat? Heck how do the find the time for that matter?? Its all i can di is get out door and get to wk then i think dang i wish i would oif ate and prob wouldnt been a apple or grapes!!! I am think n diet coke and granola bar with choc!!!! M-S

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MIA January 26, 2011 at 12:21 am

typo!!! name M-A

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E-A January 26, 2011 at 5:18 pm

Good question,where do they find the time?i respect a lot of people especailly vegetarians.i tried being a vegetarian and it lasted for three weeks i broke down and ate a steak.lol

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J-W January 24, 2011 at 3:12 pm

I look at the nutrition label all the type. Being hypoglycemic, it’s important to know what is going inside my body. It’s important for everyone but having a disease that is affected by what you eat is directly linked to looking at the label.

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R-E January 24, 2011 at 12:58 am

I never read the labels on food because, americans these days depend on advertisement, now don’t we? Now that I have actually learned how to read these and how important they are I will start watching it closely. I did not realize that one product had more calories than another on, i thought if you ate vanilla ice cream no matter what brand it all had the same calories and nutrients in it. Glad i watched this video, i will keep a closer eye on it now

R-E

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S-G January 23, 2011 at 11:07 pm

Although I know how to read food labels I seldom do. I am sure this is one of the causes for my weight problem. The labels make it much easier to choose healthier food, now I just need to convince myself into using them for the better.

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Salvador V. October 8, 2010 at 5:28 pm

This video didn’t really tell me anything I didn’t know allready. Ever since I started doing my own grocery shopping I’ve looked at the nutrition facts.

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Lacey H. September 24, 2010 at 10:51 am

I learned how to look at the food labels when we had to do the 3 day food record but I never understood the percent daily value but now with watching the video I now know what to look for. I’m of small stature and don’t really look at the labels that much but if and when I have to I’m glad that I will be able to understand what I’m looking for.

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Glen L September 23, 2010 at 9:34 pm

This video realy helped me understanding how to read food labels. I never once looked on the back of a box to look at the percentage of a serving was because a i didn’t understand what it ment and b i realy didn’t care. From now on i will check because i know how bad somethings can be for you.

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ACR2 May 24, 2011 at 2:10 pm

I think they should teach children to look at labels at an early age. So maybe this will help the obesity problem cause like you I never look at labels.

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devin r September 14, 2010 at 7:12 pm

Low fat has more fat than reduced fat. Who knew? It is definitely hard to watch the portion size. I now know that the percent daily value is helpful. I was on weightwatchers with my mom for awhile, and now it seems kind of silly, because we have all the tools we need on the food label, and we didn’t have to count points or buy a book.

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Madge C September 12, 2010 at 11:13 pm

Food labels are great, I learned more about them when we had to record our 3 day diets. I think that in reading labels you have to be careful of not going over the recommended daily allowances. I now carry a small note pad with me and record some of my daily allowances to insure I get at least close to the recommended daily intake. It takes a little more effort on my part to do this but I figure the long term benefits will be worth it.

I did not know about the fiber intake being pretty much unlimited….so I guess in some small way (on some things) more is better.

Also FYI fast food restaurants are supposed to have a fact sheet (available upon request only), available with the nutrient information for the products they sell. Good luck in getting one though. I have asked for them at 2 places here in town and though both locations said that they had–one– they were unable to locate it…..go figure!

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Taylor B September 12, 2010 at 6:08 pm

I never really paid attention to the food label. Now, after watching this video, I understand how to read it and how to use it to make healthier food choices. I didn’t know what all the number on it meant until now. When I shop for food items, I’ll spend a little more time reading the back of the can or jar!

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Laken Teague September 10, 2010 at 4:09 pm

My senior year in high school we were taught how to read food labels and this video helped fresh me up. I took a nutrition class but it was not on what I ate it was mainly on exercise.

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Tyler B September 9, 2010 at 12:42 pm

I used to never read food labels in fact i really didnt care at all what i was eating untill i was diagnosed with Chrons diease my 2nd semester in college and ever since then i read them all the time it is shocking to me that what I drank or ate everyday could really harm me so now i watch alot closer and I diffently read food lables now!

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Holly Bean September 8, 2010 at 8:39 pm

I really liked how this video showed you how to read the food lable. I never really paid much attention to the lable other then occasionally looking to see how many calories something had in it. I know feel like I can read a food lable and actually understand what it is saying.

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Jessi R. September 3, 2010 at 5:18 pm

This video did a very good job of explaining how to use food labels more efficiently. Ever since I read about this in my book I have been using food labels much more to find out what foods are better for me. This video helped add to what I learned from the book by telling about what I can look at specifically to determine what is better for me as well as teaching me what I should be most aware of on food labels which for me is the total fat and what kinds of fat they are i.e. saturated or unsaturated.

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Ashley M September 2, 2010 at 5:39 pm

If something looks good to me, I will usually try it once. I have never really looked at the labels because everyone says something different on what is good for you and what is bad. Im definately more aware on the differences of daily percent value. Now I look at the entire label instead of carbs, trans fat, and calories. I guess I should look at the bigger picture instead of letting things fade into the background.

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Krysten A September 2, 2010 at 12:18 pm

you seem to always wanna stop eating as much when you actually sit down and write out everything you have eaten in just one day because you look at it and are like “woah i ate all of that in one day”. You truely realize how much you are consuming.

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Krysten A September 2, 2010 at 12:16 pm

Healthy foods can be deceiving at times…even those claiming to be healthy. If some foods say zero fat or low sodium are sometimes worse because when they take out fat/sodium they have to replace it with something else so something that is low in sodium will be outrageous in fat, calories, or carbs and vice versa.

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Terrie H September 2, 2010 at 11:58 am

This video helped me understand the labels better. I have never been a big fan of processed food. But now I know what to look for. Very informative.

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D. Beard September 2, 2010 at 10:04 am

The food label video is very interesting. I glance at labels from here to there. I usually just look at serving sizes, fats, and fibers. I learned I have to look at the whole lable because everything there is important.

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vera, A September 1, 2010 at 10:16 pm

i see the food label as a great tool to help us foods and nutrients in the right amoumts.but i get confused some times because, if for example on butter food label it says 25g of fat.does the 25g apply to the entire can of butter as packaged by the manufacturer or does it mean each time you eat say 1 0r 2 tsp it would yield 25g of fat? or do you actually have to eat that entire can to get all the 25g of fat?

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Marcie G September 1, 2010 at 5:39 pm

My parents are diabetics so i have to always look at the Nutritional Facts on the back. Cause i have to watch their sugar in-take and make sure they have the daily proteins. And watch they fat in take. Which is hard cause they love their fats and carbohyrates.

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Donnie H. September 1, 2010 at 2:04 pm

On our three day meal record I have taken notice of the nutrition labels. I now make better decisions on how much I consume. Although the healthier food are a little more expensive the health factors of them being able to fight some diseases makes it worth it. I just wish fat didn’t taste so good so that making healthy decisions would be easy.

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Lindsey E August 30, 2010 at 9:57 pm

This video gave me a better understanding on food labels. Also I need to look at the back of the food labels to compare to brands of food. I ready do this on other products like soap, toothpaste, face creams and etc to check out ingredents on cheaper and more expensive brands. I never gave much thought to looking at food labels to see what foods are more hethy for me and my diet.

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BLisenbey October 4, 2011 at 5:03 pm

that is funny, I also compare ingredients on makeup and face creams between the cheaper and more expensive brands. I have never realized that comparing food labels is like doing that, and have never done it. makes me think about it a little bit now. thanks

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Debora M August 30, 2010 at 4:09 pm

I have been reading labels for years as I am always trying to lose weight. Never even considered anything but the calories. Now that I know how to read a label and since I have done my 3 day food record maybe I can actually start eating healthier.

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sarina m. September 13, 2010 at 5:03 pm

i have learned to read label because of my dad he had heart disease and was overwieght so that how i learned to read label

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JHR July 29, 2010 at 1:54 pm

When i read a food label i usually just look at the fat, sodium, and calories. I never thought to look at the percent daily values. I will definetly start reading all the label and not just part of it

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LNS July 22, 2010 at 11:28 am

I agree they are very useful and I do need to pay them more attention, I am wanting to get one set up for me and both girls and make it into a game where we can see how close we can stick to it.

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JHR July 29, 2010 at 1:55 pm

i love that idea, I think im going to try it with my family also!

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LNS July 22, 2010 at 11:27 am

I agree they are very useful and I do need to pay them more attention, I am wanting to get one set up for me and both girls and make it into a game where we can see how close we can stick to it. I need to start paying closesr attention to them as well and I need to read them and count them out .

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MEL July 13, 2010 at 10:47 pm

The food label seems really useful. I never pay much attention to the lables on foods because I tend to eat pretty healthy but I guess its a good thing to always check just to get an idea of the nutrient facts you are taking in.

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JEB July 23, 2010 at 2:19 pm

True, we can never be too careful with what we put in our body..

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vera, A September 1, 2010 at 10:03 pm

thats true JEB. i don’t even think the manufacturers themselves know exactly all the chemical compositions of a food product after processing.we really might not know what is getting into our systems.you can’t tell whats safe or unsafe just by looking at what the manufacturer puts on the lable.thats the more reason why strongly adhere to home cooked natural foods instead of adding more processed or fast food into my diet.i believe cooking foods in their fresh and natural state is best.

RTP July 11, 2010 at 1:33 pm

I may not be fully understanding what I am reading, but since starting this class I am definitely more aware of the nutrition labels on different products I buy. I pay more attention to the content of each category and relate it to things I’ve learned in the class. Very informative and interesting.

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SDS July 9, 2010 at 10:54 am

Every since I started this class I have paid more attention to the food label and what I eat. I sometimes judge the portions I eat by the serving size on the nutrition size, just to count calories. I never paid attention to the % daily value on the nutrition label, I just never under stood what it meant. I will now start to look at that as well. I didn’t know it was okay to eat over 100 % of daily fiber intake. I knew that less fat doesn’t always meant less calories. I also knew that the the serving size is only a recommended intake and doubling or eating less that the serving size changes the calorie and fat intake on the label. I also check the sodium on the labels, because I learned in this class that manufactures add the most salt to canned goods. But for some reason, I don’t pay attention nor do I buy food with the labels such as sugar free, low cholesterol, fat free. I didn’t know that.

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AAA July 3, 2010 at 8:20 pm

Until taking this class, I never checked the food labels. I carry alot of water so I try to check sodium levels.

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J-W January 24, 2011 at 3:15 pm

That’s something you also have to look at. Research has found that bottled water is sometimes worse than tap water. Chlorine and bleach is sometimes left in bottled water xD

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JEB June 24, 2010 at 8:46 pm

I never really payed attention to the back of the labels really unless I needed to know serving size or ingredients.. I never pay attention to calories because I am of a small stature. I better start tho because I don’t want it to catch up with me later.

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SDH June 23, 2010 at 9:56 pm

I just always assumed that the reduced fat had less fat than the low fat but after watching this video i was clearly wrong. I normally don’t pay too much attention to the labels, however, I believe I’m going to start.

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RLM June 23, 2010 at 9:40 pm

I wonder if anything changes when you combine products. do you just add the kcalories and nutrients or do they combine to something else?

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Kwin June 27, 2010 at 11:57 pm

If you mean a product with multiple ingredients, then they add all ingredient nutrient facts together. There are software programs that can do that easily. All information is base on the USDA database for nutrients. So it does not matter which software you use you should get about the same values.

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MIA January 26, 2011 at 12:16 am

I think u decide what u are tring to use or count like cals, carbs. fat….
You would still add them up seporate for the whole day. M-S

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Beth McRaven June 23, 2010 at 1:59 pm

The serving size is what will get me everytime. As a matter of fact when i did my food journal I discovered just how much sodium I was drinking in my 0 calorie sports drink. I was shocked! All I was thinking about was electrolytes and not being dehydrated ( because I was so tired). Even when I first looked at the label I thought “Oh my!, the sodium content is crazy…then I looked at the servings per container and I about fell off my chair. No more 0 calorie sports drinks for me. At least not until I run a marathon! % daily value will be a big help in choosing between two different products in the same category.

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LMM June 22, 2010 at 10:56 pm

I never looked at labels before because so many times you here something is bad for you then a few months later all of a sudden they say its good for you. The biggest reason I never paid attention is because I didn’t know how to “read” or understand the label. Now, I’ll pay more attention.

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QAL June 23, 2010 at 9:30 am

I agree with you. It seems that is there are always reports of something that was recommended earlier being recalled or that the some of the ingredients in it can cause some life threatening side effects.

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SDH June 23, 2010 at 10:02 pm

I’m right there with you! I wouldn’t ever read the labels simply because I didn’t know how to. I somewhat have an idea now so I will definately pay more attention and try to start eating healthier. The food label is a great tool to have!

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Terrie H September 2, 2010 at 11:55 am

I agree. I will definitely be looking at the labels now with great understanding.

SAF June 22, 2010 at 7:09 pm

I used to work in a grocery store and I never bothered to look at what was the difference in low fat and reduced fat. It always bothered me and I always meant to look but I never did. I guess I know now .

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QAL June 21, 2010 at 1:12 pm

When looking at the Nutritional facts on the back of food boxes, I never used the Percent Daily Value. I thought that just reading the fat and calories was good enough. I should have known if someone put it on the back of the box with the rest of the facts that it was just as important. At least now I know how to use it effectively.

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N-T January 26, 2011 at 7:27 pm

i thought that same thing i thought calories was all that was important

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