How to Read Food Labels Like a Pro (Especially for Chocolate Lovers)

Ever stood in front of the chocolate shelf, squinting at a label, wondering if that bar is actually good for you? You’re not alone. Whether you're into dark chocolate, keto-friendly options, or just want to keep things clean, reading labels can feel like decoding a secret language.

But here at Funky Fat Foods, we believe knowledge is power—and power is tasty.

That’s why we’re breaking it down for you. No nutrition degree needed. Just a simple, clear guide to help you choose snacks and chocolate (especially Funky Fat Chocolates 😉) that align with your goals. Whether you're managing sugar, watching ingredients, or just want to feel good about what you eat, this blog is your ultimate cheat sheet to clean label shopping.

So next time you flip over a package, you’ll know exactly what to look for—and what to avoid. Let's dive in and learn how to read food labels like a true clean-eating pro.

1. Start With the Ingredients List

The ingredients list is where the truth lives. It’s the first place to look—not the front label, which is often just marketing fluff. Here’s how to read it like a pro:

• Order matters: Ingredients are listed from most to least used. If sugar is #1, you know what that bar is really made of.
• Shorter is better: A clean chocolate bar should have 5-7 recognizable ingredients. Any more and you might be looking at fillers.
• Watch out for weird names: If you can’t pronounce it, your body probably won’t love it. Look out for emulsifiers, artificial flavorings, and preservatives.
• Real food always wins: Ingredients like cocoa mass, cocoa butter, MCT oil, and natural sweeteners are a good sign.

Funky tip: All our Funky Fat Chocolates use real, functional ingredients. No fillers. No fake stuff. Just functional fats and clean fuel.

2. What Does the % of Cacao Actually Mean?

Let’s talk about that bold number on the front of the bar—70%, 85%, 90%. What does it actually tell you?

• Cacao % = cacao mass solids.
• Higher % = less of the other ingredients: A 90% bar has way less of other ingredients than a 60% one.
• Bitterness isn’t bad: More cacao usually means more antioxidants and minerals like magnesium and iron.
• Low % often means more sugars/fillers: If it’s 50% cacao, the other 50% is often sugars and/or fillers.

So what’s the sweet spot? For most clean eaters, anything above 70% is great. But make sure it doesn’t just swap sugar for chemical sweeteners (more on that below).

Funky tip: Our dark chocolate bars all contain 75% cacao solids, depending on the flavour. The other 25%? Cacao butter, cacao mass, MCTs and natural sweeteners.

3. Best vs Worst Sweeteners

Sugar-free doesn’t automatically mean healthy. Some sugar substitutes are worse than sugar itself. Here’s what to look for:

✅ Clean, Functional Sweeteners

• Erythritol: Naturally derived, gut-friendly, and doesn’t spike blood sugar.
• Stevia: Plant-based, super sweet (a little goes a long way), and zero calories.
• Monk Fruit: Another natural zero-calorie sweetener, great for keto and diabetic-friendly diets.

🚫 Sweeteners to Avoid

• Maltitol: Often causes digestive discomfort and still spikes blood sugar.
• Sorbitol, Mannitol: Can trigger bloating, gas, and gut issues in sensitive individuals.
• High Fructose Corn Syrup: Highly processed and linked to inflammation and energy crashes.

Funky tip: We only use the natural sweeteners erythritol derived from corn—no blood sugar spikes, no gut drama.

4. What Else to Look for on the Label

Besides ingredients and sweeteners, here are a few more pro tips:

✔ Check the Nutrition Facts

• Total Carbs vs Net Carbs: If you’re keto or low-carb, subtract fiber and sugar alcohols to get net carbs.
• Serving Size: Always check how many servings per bar. Some labels look healthy… until you realize they’re for half the bar.
• Fat Source: Look for healthy fats like MCT oil, cocoa butter, and coconut—not hydrogenated oils or seed oils.

✔ Certifications Matter

• Organic: Good to have, especially for cacao.
• Keto-Friendly or Low Carb: A quick way to spot a blood sugar-friendly option.
• Gluten-Free: If it matters to you, always check.

Funky tip: Our labels are designed for clarity. What you see is what you get. Clean. Simple. Functional. Always.

Conclusion: You Deserve to Know What You’re Eating

Learning how to read food labels is one of the most empowering steps in your clean eating journey. The front of the package might shout “healthy,” but the back of the label tells the real story. Once you understand ingredients, cacao %, and sweetener quality, you’ll never be fooled by flashy claims again.

At Funky Fat Foods, we believe that knowledge is delicious. That’s why we make dark chocolate that ticks every clean-eating box: high cacao content, clean ingredients, no added sugars, and MCT-powered fuel.

So next time you're choosing your treat, flip that bar over. You’ve got this. And if you’re holding a Funky Fat bar? You’re already winning.

Stay smart. Stay empowered. Stay funky.