Final answer:
A medical assistant should teach patients to read nutrition facts labels to choose foods high in beneficial nutrients and low in negative ones, and use tools like MyPlate for balanced meal proportions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Nutritional Information on Food Labels
A medical assistant explaining how to understand nutritional information on food labels should emphasize the importance of reading nutrition facts labels to make healthier food choices. These labels provide critical information regarding nutrient content per serving and the list of ingredients, which can guide patients in selecting foods that are high in beneficial nutrients such as fiber and protein, and low in nutrients that should be consumed in moderation, such as sodium and sugar.
The assistant should also highlight the significance of the percent daily values (% DV) found on nutrition facts labels. These values help compare how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet and can help patients gauge the nutrient contribution of a particular food in relation to their overall nutritional needs.
Additionally, tools such as MyPlate can complement the information on nutrition facts labels by providing a visual guide representing the recommended food group proportions for a balanced meal. This integrated approach, using both MyPlate and nutrition facts labels, can significantly aid in achieving a healthy eating plan.