I always read the nutritional labels on foods.  I've put many things back on
the shelf after reading them<G>

Beverly

I never used to read them.   And many times I don't still.    I hate
food journalling and meticulaizing over such details.

The packages I do read are any processed foods I plan to buy.   I'll
keep some *quick fix* foods around for those nights that I don't want
to cook and there are no leftovers or other such items around.

Generally its not the calorie content I'm concerned about as much as I
am the sodium (salt) content.    That stuff really affects me.

Although I have made observations over the years.   And if you are one
to eat the convience bags of chips found in vending machines you will
find that many of them are indeed 2 or 2.5 servings.  

Likewise, breads are another thing I will look at - as I do try to
find high fiber/low carb breads, but you also have to watch the
packaging because one brand will consider a "Serving" as 2 slices (a
sandwich).   Where others will consider a serving only 1 slice.    I
end up sitting there doing the math to calculate the carbs and fiber
and calorie content.

But, once I find what something suitable and that I like, I tend to
buy the same thing week after week, so I don't look again until I have
to switch brands.

Would be wonderful!

I always do this in my head, to find out just how much is in a
package.

i

After years of reading the packages, I decided packaged food mostly isn't
worth the money.  My rules of thumb are these:
I can usually make it or a reasonable facsimile or a substitute so I don't
buy it.
If I can't make it (like yogurt) then the fewer ingredients on the package
the more likely I am to buy it.

Sometimes I will buy something pre-packaged to see if I like it, and then I
look for a recipe.  Example: Baba Ghanoush.  But I probably won't look for a
recipe, I wasn't impressed and it had mayonnaise in it.  Maybe an authentic
recipe doesn't or I could reduce it, but I have enough salad recipes with
mayonnaise so it isn't high on my priorities. (yes I have a recipe for
mayonnaise in case you were wondering)

Now, I will have to break the rules in a couple of weeks when I go for
abdominal surgery and can't make my own bread for a while, so I will have to
tell my shopper (probably my brother) exactly which brand of bread to buy to
make sure I know what I'm getting.

I would imagine that in the general population not many people read the
packages in the store, but maybe when they're home eating and want something
to read :)  I spend a lot of time in the store because I read every package
that I'm not familiar with.  First I read the ingredients because there are
things I'm trying to avoid, then I read the nutrition information, mostly to
check sat fat, sodium, and fiber.  I don't notice too many other people
around me doing the same thing though.

Jenn

In the UK, nutritional value is expressed on the pack as per 100g of
the product.  This makes it very easy to work out however much you're
eating as a percentage of this.  IMO, this seems easier than talking
about servings.
janice