Now that we’ve established that grocery shopping is a fairly complex act requiring time reading ingredients and studying labels, and then having to price compare, we are behind the time clock. We’re talking about a significant amount of precious time most of us do not have.

Understanding what we’re reading complicates the issue. It seems we need to walk around with a dictionary to determine what the various additives mean or we could just skip the product all together and settle for those with few ingredients and simultaneously those that use familiar words such as “tomato” rather than “hydrogenated tomato puree” or one of its cousins. Language simplicity should be the key to product purchasing. If you are unfamiliar with the word or overwhelmed by the number of ingredients, move on.

Now there’s a new game in town: The Smart Choices Program. Its basic principle is to identify foods that are “smart,” AKA nutritious, selections and then designate them with an easily identifiable front-of-the pack green check mark. The goal is to cut down on precious shopping time; to offer us products that will help maintain a healthy lifestyle. Before a product qualifies for this distinguishable label, it must meet the nutrient standards as identified by the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” which are published every five years (the next such categorization will be out in 2010). Look at what’s been done so far. You can get involved.

The Smart Choices Program covers 19 distinct categories including meats, dairy, produce, and snacks. If a product receives the Smart Choice check, the calorie count (and the number of servings per container) will be prominently displayed on the front. This program is the end result of a team effort of scientists, public health organizations, food manufacturers, and nutrition educators. Now it is up to more food companies to submit their products for review and help make that elongated grocery shopping experience quicker, healthier, and easier.

Yes, it’s true, this type of nutrition labeling designation is one more thing to consider when purchasing food and beverages, but for a product to qualify and earn the green check, much of the thinking has been done.

This quick visual read should help us make smart choices.