Serving size a pitfall for label-readers:
A common pitfall when checking nutrition labels is failing to factor in serving size, according to a small study by Vanderbilt University researchers. And even when people do, they often miscalculate how much they're eating. Americans' inability to understand portion control is one reason cited for the country's climbing obesity rates.
Personally, I have become more aware of serving sizes posted on nutrition labels. Just as an example (and an example they use in the article), a regular can of soda can be mistaken as one serving size. But if you read it carefully, those regular sized cans are actually two servings. Therefore if you chug down one can, you're actually getting double the calories, sugar, etc. that are listed on the label. This goes for most food and drinks you purchase. If people aren't aware of the serving sizes, they can mistake the package size as one portion. Now a days, package sizes are large. If you were to eat the correct serving of most foods, most people would be amazed at just how small a serving really is.
