Firstly, a huge thank you to Tina for asking me to do this guest post! I am beyond flattered! As a fellow blogger and aspiring author, I have so much admiration and respect for Tina and ALL that she does! She seems to have her hands in just about everything writing and nutrition-related!
One of Tina’s many jobs includes work for NuVal, a nutritional value system which assigns a numeric rating of “nutrition” to various foods. Consumers can easily locate the hexagonal blue and white NuVal sign and determine the healthfulness of a product based on its rating. The NuVal scores work on a scale of 1-100 (100 being the best). As a Registered Dietitian I find labels and grocery store aisles present huge barriers for those trying to make healthier choices. Consumers get lost in what to hone in on a nutrition label. Should we be looking at calories? Sodium? Fat? Fiber? Calcium? Iron? Fortunately and unfortunately, ALL of these nutritional components add or subtract from the overall healthfulness of a certain food or food product. The NuVal system assesses 30 nutrition components using an algorithm which results in one single number indicating the healthfulness of a product: a NuVal score.
While NuVal is not yet available everywhere, it is growing…quickly! I am able to utilize NuVal in my practice by briefly explaining the scoring system and where to locate the scores while shopping. This allows me to devote more time during my counseling sessions to deeper concepts, tailored to the patient’s needs. Many patients require extensive, in-depth education on the basics of nutrition, including macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) and how to read a label. With the help of NuVal, consumers can compare similar products by simply glancing at NuVal scores, while increasing the nutritional value of their selections. Additionally, putting emphasis on a nutritional score over a price or label puts less emphasis on cost and health claims and ensures the customer is making a smart nutritional choice. I’ve had many patients say to me that if they felt more confident in their label-reading abilities and product selection, they would be more apt to purchase healthier foods despite higher price tags.
While labels are confusing enough, nutrition claims found littered across boxes and packages can also deter shoppers from choosing more nutritious foods. Very few individuals know the true definition of “low-sodium”, “reduced fat”, or “high fiber”. The U.S. labeling laws can mislead consumers when trying to make educated decisions on their food purchases.
During the 10-week weight loss classes at the clinic where I work, I devote an entire class to NuVal scores. The patients just love the information. Many of them find some scores surprising, even! For example: Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread scores an 81 while Weight Watchers 100% Whole Grain Bread scores a 39. Ice cream is another shocker for most people – Breyers Extra Creamy Vanilla Ice cream scores a 45 while Haagen Dazs Fat-Free Strawberry Sorbet scores a 1! Fiber One bars have become one of America’s go-to snack bars. Unfortunately, The Fiber One Chewy Bars Oats & Strawberries with Almonds earn a score of 32.
Research is also backing up the work of NuVal. One resent study published by the American Journal for Clinical Nutrition found that NuVal scores are consistent in promoting foods to help lower hypertension and are consistent with the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) guidelines.
I appreciate the hard work being done at NuVal and for the possibilities NuVal brings to the nutrition world! Thank you!
Nicole, Prevention RD
Developed by an independent panel of nutrition and medical experts, the 
I loved finding out that Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread scores an 81! That is great
I love that Meijers has the NuVal scores for many products listed. I also love the prices at Meijers. I call that a WIN WIN.
That’s so great that the scores can help your clients and make their lives easier!