Calories vs. Nutrient-Density

Nutrition can be complicated...no? So much conflicting research and the onslaught of news and "experts" sharing their knowledge can get confusing, making us lose our confidence in our healthy eating choices. Well, I'm here to discuss a really SIMPLE way to focus on the foods you can ADD to your plate instead of what to avoid, and to focus on your nutritional bang for your buck, instead of the good ol calorie. 

Calories are great and all, but they aren't a good measure of how nutritious a food is. Just because a chicken sandwich is 300 calories, doesn't mean that it is nutrient-dense. What I mean by that is how much NUTRITION is in the food you are eating. 200 calories of low fat pretzels does not equal 200 calories of roasted broccoli. The broccoli is DENSER in the healthiest components that our foods could have, such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, fiber, and a myriad of other components. These all function together to protect our bodies against cancer, diabetes, heart disease, aging, memory loss, and many other diseases. So you can see, the most nutritious foods we could eat are fruit and vegetables. They are dense in nutrition and low in calorie, so you get more health benefits bang for your calorie buck!

My professional opinion is to not focus so much on calories, but focus on the TYPES of foods you are eating. Which is why I LOVE the meal plan I follow now! (contact me if you want to get your hands on it too!) it is all about balancing out the different nutrients your body is consuming in theright portion so we get the most bang for our buck. By focusing on how much nutrition is in each food, not just the numbers and calories, we will start consuming powerful amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber that will boost our health. Eat mostly vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, lean proteins, and healthy fats, and you will be well on your way to achieving health and vitality!

So as you go about your day, plan out your meals, and try to sift through the confusion that is "health news," focus on how you can make your meals more nutritionally DENSE by adding as many vegetables and fruits into your day as possible! The more of these foods you eat, the better you will feel, the healthier you will be, and the more energized and well-functioning your body will become. Here's to your health, and happy weekend! :)