What, exactly, does free-range mean again? You pause for a moment, and turn to the other package before wondering And is organic better? Welcome to the confusing world of meat terminology, where it sometimes seems like a nutrition degree is necessary for decoding what you put in your fridge and your plate. “I think there’s more confusion because of the explosion of manufacturer-created logos and marketing terms that don’t have true regulatory oversight,” says Ashley Koff, RD, who runs the Better Nutrition Simplified Program. “People are confused what to look for.” With that in mind, here’s the 411 on the five terms that will help you be a smarter meat eater and a handy infographic for your grocery Pinterest board.

  1. Natural “Natural” is a clear and meaningful meat term, insofar as the USDA has a set definition for it, explains Dawn Undurraga, RD, a nutritionist for the Environmental Working Group (which publishes a comprehensive Meat Eater’s Guide). To qualify, meat must contain no artificial ingredients or added color (gross to think about, we know), and be only minimally processed. All fresh meat, therefore, is considered natural—but it doesn’t mean a whole lot beyond that. Head on over to Well + Good for the rest of the list—plus a handy infographic on meat-labeling lingo.