PERCENTAGE DAILY INTAKE GUIDE THUMBNAILS

The Daily Intake Guide helps you make easy, smarter choices about the food you should include in your diet and how to manage your daily intake as part of a balanced diet.

WHAT IS DAILY INTAKE LABELING?

The Daily Intake Guide (DIG) is the display of “thumbnails” on the front of pack. You can use DIG to access quick and easy information about the amount per serve of energy (kilojoules) and key nutrients in your food as a percentage of daily intake (%DI).

Daily Intakes (DIs) are a set of reference values for acceptable intakes of energy and a variety of nutrients, including protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugars, fibre and sodium. They are based on an average adult’s daily energy requirement of 8700kJ.  It’s important to note that your DIs may be higher or lower depending on your energy needs.

WHAT DO %DI LABELS TELL ME?

The %DI label on the front of pack shows the amount (as a percentage) that one serve of a food contributes to your overall DI.

The %DI values are a guide to help you make more informed choices about the foods you eat.

 You can use the %DI values to:

• Understand what’s in a serve and how that contributes to your daily kilojoule and nutrient needs.

• Easily compare the foods and drinks you buy with similar products.

• Choose foods and drinks that best suit your energy needs.

• Consider individual nutrients in light of your own dietary needs

 For more information, go to www.dailyintake.net   

References:

Australian Food and Grocery Council, 2011. Daily Intake Guide: Healthy Eating, Made Easy  http://www.mydailyintake.net/basics/