E Is For...Empty Calories

Empty calories is basically anything you eat that has no real nutritional value.  

For example, a Hostess twinkie (some people actually love these monstrosities) has no real substantial (or otherwise) nutritional value.  Sorry to all you twinkie lovers out there, this is only my opinion (as far as the word monstrosities goes), I mean no disrespect.

When you hear people, doctors, or nutritionists talk about empty calorie foods they are usually talking about junk food and the like. Here are some examples...

• Cakes, cookies, pastries, and donuts (contain both solid fat and added sugars)
• Sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks, and fruit drinks (contain added sugars)
• Cheese (contains solid fat)
• Pizza (contains solid fat)
• Ice cream (contains both solid fat and added sugars)
• Sausages, hot dogs, bacon, and ribs (contain solid fat)

See what I am talking about, this stuff is pretty much empty calorie heaven (foods we love to eat but loathe what they do to our bodies).  I, much like some of you, love these foods, yet I rarely (if ever) eat any of them.  That pretty much means I eat a lot of fruit, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, very little fish and very little eggs (less than 5 a week).  I'm what some people refer to as a flexitarian or someone who eats primarily vegan/vegetarian but adds in fish (or some other lean meat)...I don't eat or drink milk products.

The food I consume is healthy and does my body good! (yes I get the pun..Milk, it does a body good) When I am in need of something sweet I'll have a Ghirardelli dark (72-74%) chocolate square. When I want pizza I make my own using a large tortilla baked in the oven til it's crispy...top with my favorite veggies, a meat substitute and soy cheese, and voilà (french pronunciation please) I have pizza too!  

Okay, so soy cheese is probably considered, by some, an empty calorie food but it's my substitute for milk based cheese, and it works (tastes great on pizza or in something, not so great on it's own) for me. So in summary, eat less empty calorie foods like cake and twinkies and more nutritionally stacked foods like an apple or a salmon fillet.

Thanks so very much for stopping by, hugs and blessings.

What type of empty calorie foods do you like best?
What type of nutritionally stacked foods are your favorite?
  

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

"Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.