When choosing packaged foods, look at the food product as a whole – some foods, for example, may be low in fat but high in sugar or salt. Here are some useful tools to help.
Comparing foods using the Health Star Rating
The Health Star Rating compares the nutritional value of similar packaged foods and rates them between 1/2 to 5 stars. The more stars a food has, the healthier it is compared to other similar foods.
You can find out more about the Health Star Rating from the:
Health Promotion Agency
Ministry for Primary Industries.
Comparing foods using the nutrition information on the label
Compare the food labels of similar foods and choose those that are lower in saturated fat, sugar and/or salt and with the highest amount of fibre per 100 g of food. In the labels shown below, breakfast cereal 1 is the best choice.
