Calories, Calories… where are the Calories?
You may have seen the ad by a soda company…. telling you that yes… their product has calories… but hey, a calorie is a calorie… and “all calories count, no matter where they come from” and, “if you eat and drink more calories than you burn off, you will gain weight”. Therefore, as long as you watch your total calorie intake and exercise, it’s ok to drink their soda. Or, you may have read the interview of a fast food chain CEO where the person says he is "working out again" and now losing weight (about 20lbs.), but also said he hasn't changed his habit of eating his company’s fast food meals "every, single day." Well… neither of these statements tells you the whole truth. You see… there are calories… and then there are CALORIES. What they are trying to ‘sell you’ is the notion that any calorie is equal to any other calorie…. So simply watch your total calorie intake and you will be just fine. However, the truth is not all calories are the same! What they are promoting are ‘empty calories’ with almost no nutritional benefit at all. In the real world of nutrition, it’s not just the calories you eat, but also the type of calories you eat: Empty Calories vs. Nutrient Dense Calories. So, the idea that calories in a soda are the same as in broccoli is totally absurd. The idea that calories in a burger and fries are the same as in brussels sprouts, or carrots, or a healthy green salad is completely false. What you get in the empty calories is mostly sugar, fat and salt. What you get in nutrient dense calories are the vitamins, minerals, phyto-chemicals, and protein you need to maintain good health. There is a world of difference between these empty calories when compared to nutrient dense calories. Maintaining good health depends on the proper mix of nutrient dense calories.
Eat Well…Shop Wisely....Stay Healthy!
Shop at the South Windsor Farmers Market:
Opening Day, Saturday June 29, 2013 ; 10am to 1pm,
AT: the South Windsor Community Center
Find us on Facebook:
South Windsor FOOD Alliance
South Windsor Farmers Market
Webpage: swfood.org
* The South Windsor FOOD Alliance:
Sub-Committee of the SW Park & Recreation Commission
