Let’s change our relationship to calories. By doing so, we need to ask ourselves, what is a calorie? A calorie is a unit of energy provided by food that fuels our bodies. I could use more energy in my day-to-day life, couldn’t you? The midday trip to the coffee shop for a caffeine boost isn’t cutting it anymore. Let’s shift our relationship with calories from fighting them to working with them. It’s important to consider the quality of the food we consume rather than its quantity. Experiment with eating foods that grow naturally. Vegetables have fewer calories than processed foods with high calorie density. Let’s look at eating a 100-calorie snack. You can grab roughly nine chips, depending on the brand, or 25 baby carrots. The carrots are low in calories but can leave you feeling fuller than eating just nine chips. A handful of chips can easily turn into eating half a bag. The calories add up quickly, and it’s no wonder weight gain can happen so fast.
When you decide to grab a snack, take a few minutes to look up the calorie differences between the snacks you’re considering. These small changes made over time can profoundly impact your overall health and well-being. Focus on making minor adjustments instead of drastic changes that are difficult to maintain. I am guilty of setting unrealistic health goals only to feel discouraged and deflated after I let myself slip. Let’s be gentle with ourselves if we weaken to cravings. Remember, no one is perfect. Practice mindful eating to develop a balanced relationship with calories and support your health goals.