The calorie difference!

I had a great question come up yesterday with a group I worked with on timing nutrient ingestion. They asked why calories from something that is considered "healthy and wholesome food" are so much better for us than the same amount of calories from food that is "bad" or what I like to call refined/processed foods. What it really came down to is that the athletes wanted dessert-they knew there was about 200 calories in the various ones available and why should they have the berries and cream, when a cookie was sitting right there, and based on the information lables the total calorie content was the same.

However, what they have to remember is that just because a calorie content is listed for foods-doesn't mean that this is what you get once you eat it!

The number of calories someone gets from food depends on digestion and timing of when we put it in. Just because we are told that carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram does not mean we will get "just 4". In all reality, one person may get 2 calories and another 6 calories-or maybe even more! This goes for protein and fat as well.

At the end of the day, no matter whether you are an athlete or parent, we have to remember our goals and let that be our guide towards the type foods we eat!