Looking at food labels and comparing food labels is smart shopping. Food labels can help a person know the nutritional value of food. But food labels haven't been required for meat...until now that is. As of March 1, 2012, nutrition labeling for meats are mandatory. This is great news for us label readers!

Before now, the USDA required nutrition labels only on meat and poultry with added ingredients, such as marinade or stuffing. Now, the new law affects all ground meat and poultry and 40 of the most popular cuts of meat, whether they have added ingredients or not. So chicken breasts, steaks, pork chops and roasts, for example, must have a Nutrition Facts Label stuck to its package or have the nutrition information posted on a sign near the point of sale.

You'll finally be able to compare calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and more in meat. In addition, if the product shows the percentage of lean meat, such as "80% lean", it must also say that it is "20% fat".

While red meat tends to be higher in saturated fat, you'll now be able to see for yourself that it's not always the case. For example, a 3 ounce skinless chicken thigh actually has more saturated fat and total fat than a 3 ounce top round steak. On the other hand, the same portion size of a skinless chicken breast has less saturated fat and total fat of the top round steak. Comparing these labels will really help us choose the best choice. You'll find that when it comes to red meat, those cuts that include the word round are the lowest in fat, with loin being a close second. In poultry, dark meat has more fat than white meat.

Try this version of Swiss steak.  If you have some "choosy" eaters at home, prepare theirs without the tomato mushroom sauce.  They can choose to add it on top later if they'd like.

Healthier Swiss Steak

1 pound round steak trimmed of visible fat and bone

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 (15-ounce) tomato sauce

2 tablespoons instant onion flakes

1½ cups sliced celery

1 (4-ounce) can sliced mushrooms and liquid

1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes

1. Trim all visible fat from the meat. Cut into serving pieces.
2. Sprinkle with pepper.
3. Place steak in baking dish. Pour on tomato sauce. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in refrigerator overnight.
4. The next day sprinkle on onion flakes and celery. Add mushrooms and mushroom liquid. Top with parsley flakes.
5. Bake covered with foil (shiny side down) at 350º for 1½ hours or until steak is tender.
6. Serve over noodles if desired.

Yield: 6 servings

Nutrition information per serving: 230 Calories (without noodles), 9 grams fat, 3.5 grams saturated fat, 9 grams carbohydrate 75 milligrams sodium , 75 milligrams cholesterol, 27 grams protein