Not All Calories Are Created Equal

2023 is the year to switch your mindset on calories. Calories are simply a unit of energy that tells you almost nothing about the nutritional value of the food you are eating.

Soooooo, food in its most basic form is calories, and a calorie in its most basic form is energy. But not all calories are created equal. Seems pretty obvious that the calories in those Auntie Ann's pretzel things they sell at every airport in America are not the same as the calories in an apple you buy at the farmers market.

And yet we cling to counting calories as a way of making healthy choices.

I was recently walking by Pinkberry, a frozen yogurt restaurant franchise. And I heard a woman ask how many calories were in the 16oz smoothie. The answer is 370.

Wrong question, sister!

The more pertinent question would be how many grams of sugar are in the 16oz smoothie. And that answer is a shocking 58 grams of sugar.

Especially considering the recommended daily sugar intake for adult women is 22 grams!

Instead of counting calories, start counting nutrients. Food is expensive, and it makes the most sense to get the most significant nutrient value for your hard-earned consumer dollars.

The most nutrient-dense foods are also the best for us: fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, nuts, seeds, seafood, lean protein, grains, legumes, and fermented foods. Most of these don't even have labels; they are simply foods nature designed to fuel our bodies.

Become a label reader and look for grams of sugar, sodium, and lists of artificial ingredients. Sugar has ZERO nutritional value, and chemicals may be in food, but that does not mean they are food. Eat more food without labels because when we give our bodies the nutrients they require to function optimally, we can stop counting calories and start counting wellness gains.

You can download my guide to Sneaky Added Sugar to help you make healthier choices in 2023.