Tag Archives: calorie counting

Daily Burn’s Food Scanner iPhone App is an Essential Food Journal Tool

If you count calories, food journal, or are simply concerned with keeping track of what exactly you’re consuming each day, then you must try the Daily Burn Food Scanner app for the iPhone. This hot new app might be the best new thing to happen in dieting and weight loss. Using the camera in your iPhone (any model), you can scan the UPC code on packaged foods, and within seconds have the complete food label in front of you. The best part, it will also log all of those nutrition facts for you.

(more…)

Posted on September 24, 2023 by Natalie K

How Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Fits in Your Diet

Fall is a special time. Lots of great things occur. My kids go back to school. Football season starts again. I can finally stop wearing shorts and can (hopefully!) get back into my favorite jeans. But, even more important to an entire legion of my friends is the return of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. I have friends who wait all year long to be able to order this drink. It’s immensely popular and stores have a tough time keeping the syrup on the shelves. Have you ever wondered if this drink was worth it? Let’s take a look. (more…)

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Carmen

TwoFoods: Your Diet’s New Best Friend

How come someone hasn’t thought of this diet tool before? TwoFoods is a free website application that allows you to compare two foods at once to determine which one better fits into your eating plan.

For instance, you can compare a McDonald’s grilled chicken salad to Panera’s grilled chicken Caesar salad, to find that the McDonald’s version is a better choice; or you can compare generic potato chips against Baked Lays and receive a complete nutritional analysis of calories, fat, carbs and protein grams. (more…)

Posted on September 6, 2023 by heather

How to Cut the Sugar and Sweets from Your Diet

The American Heart Association recently released recommendations for added sugars – and they say “slash slash slash” it way down. According to their position paper, the usual intake of added sugars for Americans was 22.2 teaspoons per day (355 calories per day) in 2001-2004. American Heart Association would like to see American women consume no more than 100 calories per day and men no more than 150 calories per day from added sugars. Why? Excessive consumption of sugars has been linked with several metabolic abnormalities and adverse health conditions, as well as shortfalls of essential nutrients.

Translation: Basically, Americans are overdrawing the “calorie funds” in their “discretionary calories” bank account. Discretionary calories are what’s left over in the budget AFTER you have prioritized healthy, nourishing foods to meet nutrient needs (the ole fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans). While your bank would charge you an overdraft fee, unfortunately your body can’t do that. (more…)

Posted on August 31, 2023 by Rebecca

Calories Versus Exercise: Can’t They Both be Friends?

Thanks to the article in Time magazine last week, there has been a lot of attention paid at the controversy surrounding the actual benefits of exercise when it comes to weight loss. While author John Cloud sure got people defending both sides of the argument, a closer look at this ensuing discussion in the weight loss and weight loss maintenance world is needed.

Cloud may have created a more convincing and less dangerous argument had he recommended the function and usefulness of maintaining a regular, moderate-intensity workout routine rather than suggesting that exercise and reduced caloric intake are perhaps not required to lose weight. (more…)

Posted on August 12, 2023 by heather

Designer Coffee Brimming with Calories

The cost of a cup of coffee ain’t what it used to be. But diet-wise, a cup of joe will only cost you about 5 calories. That is, until you start adding flavors to it. Then the calories start racking up.

In fact, some fancy coffee drinks amount to the same caloric intake as an entire meal.

The largest size of Starbucks’ Dark Berry Mocha Frappuccino, a limited for summer-time offer, contains a whopping 561 calories. Speaking of whoppers, a flame-broiled Whopper from Burger King isn’t much more at 670 calories. (more…)

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Jason

How to Determine Your Daily Calorie Needs

I have to say as a dietitian, I don’t like focusing on “how many calories do I need?” with my clients. I think there’s a certain value in knowing what you need for daily activities and exercise and determining how many calories you should cut to lose weight safely.

However, my clients have been very successful with losing weight with behavioral changes that don’t involve counting calories. In this post, I’ll give you a few tips for calculating your calorie needs (because I know you want to know) and I will give you a few suggestions that have really helped my clients drop a few pounds without needing a calculator and a math degree. (more…)

Posted on July 29, 2023 by Rebecca

How to Avoid a Calorie Festival This Fourth of July

As a dietitian, I consistently stress the importance of balance and moderation when it comes to eating healthy. I also reinforce the meaning of special occasions and holidays and the role of food in those celebrations. Fourth of July is the picnic of the year! We’re celebrating Independence Day. It’s supposed to be fun. But it doesn’t have to be a calorie festival either. If you can just remember “it’s not about the food – it’s about the people you’re with” you’re well on your way to having a great time and staying on track with your healthy eating goals.

Here are some tips for a happy and healthy picnic:

Eat with your eyes! Enjoy the look of all the food that’s there and pick out what you think you will enjoy that will also nourish you. (more…)

Posted on July 3, 2023 by Rebecca

Study Condemns Condiments

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the difference. In the case of your diet, don’t just look at the food you eat, but what you put on it.

Condiments are often a second thought in our meal preparations, that may be putting on extra pounds. Yes, but not necessarily in the way you would think.

New research is suggesting that if you just say no to the extras on your food, like ketchup, relish, etc., you can shed some weight. But not so much because of the extra calories, even though that would help too, it’s more about evidence that shows condiments make people consume more food. (more…)

Posted on June 24, 2023 by Jason

Metabolism Not Stoked By Exercise

One of my favorite fitness “facts” has just been foiled by a new study. Exercise has long been thought to have the secret weapon of stoking your metabolism 24 hours a day. Not so fast, say experts.

Edward Melanson, an exercise physiologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado in Denver, says that this has led people to believe that diet doesn’t matter so much, as long as you sweat it out at the gym.

“People think they have a license to eat whatever they want, and our research shows that is definitely not the case,” he says. “You can easily undo what you set out to do.” (more…)

Posted on June 7, 2023 by Jason

Feeling the Squeeze: 4 Signs Your Eating Plan is too Restrictive

Rebecca Scritchfield, MA, RD, ACSM HFS is a Washington, D.C. based dietitian and weight management expert. Together with Bernie Salazar, at-home winner of The Biggest Loser, she co-created “The Nurture Principles” – Five mantras to help people change their lives and find wellness within.

If you’ve ever lost weight by cutting calories then you can understand the allure of restricting further to accelerate weight loss. But just because a little is good – more is not better. An eating plan that is too restrictive is a first-class ticket to sabotage. Find out if your current plan needs loosening up.

You cut out foods you love.

If your diet has you avoiding specific foods, especially ones you love, it is essentially setting you up for failure. There’s no reason that even the most “forbidden” food can’t be included in a healthy eating plan. You deserve to love the foods you eat. Include a small portion of something that satisfies – whether you crave sweet or salty foods. (more…)

Posted on May 9, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Tag Archives: calorie counting

Advertising Disclosure