March is National Nutrition Month! This month is all about learning how proper nutrition can help us with our health goals. For many of us, one of our biggest goals is to lose weight, and usually, we hear that the best way to do that is by counting calories. There are countless apps, books and websites on the topic, and the logic behind it is simple to understand: burn more calories than you consume and you’ll lose weight.
Well, when we just count calories, sometimes we forget that we should be counting nutrients too!
When we focus so much on the number of calories in certain foods, we might not realize that the food we chose, even if it says low-calorie, might also be very low in the nutrients we need to keep our bodies fueled for weight loss!
Most of the food available to us today is more highly processed than ever and is loaded with chemicals and sugar, two extremely potent things that can wreak havoc on our health. Calorie counting, especially when we focus on these highly-processed but low-calorie choices, only tells us how much we are eating, not whether it will be a good source of energy or be satisfying to eat. Calorie counting restricts us to a number when we should also be looking at nutrients and ingredients. Plus, our bodies process nutrients differently. We need a balanced approach to our diets that include proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. This will help ensure that our bodies are getting what they need to run well.
So, what to do if you want to lose weight but are new to counting nutrients instead of calories?
- Learn portion sizes and how many of each you should have in a day. You can find more information here on portions and eating guidelines.
- Stick to the perimeter of the grocery store. This is where you will find whole, nutritious foods with little to no processing that will be great fuel for your body and will keep you satisfied.
- Ditch your soda habit and start drinking more water. You can mix it up with lemon, lime, or other fruits, or even go for sparkling water, just make sure there is no added sugar.
- Don’t skip meals or snacks! Going hungry means your metabolism will respond by slowing down. Your body needs fuel! Keep it going with some balanced meals and snacks.
So, when you think about your food from now on, think about making nutritious choices that are less processed and have healthier ingredients! It is still important to pay attention to portion size, but double-check ingredient lists first before looking at calorie content. More often than not, the less processed your food is, the better you’ll feel!