Calories Vs Nutrition

We don’t count calories at Gut Happy, but rather look at the nutritional value of each meal. And yes there is a difference.

Every piece of food that we ingest or drink we drink has an energy value to it and that is measured as calories. For example a 100gm apple has approximately 52 calories, whereas a 39g twin bar of Twirl has 210 calories. You get the picture! Many diets are based on counting calories and some are valid like the 5:2 diet plan, whereby you limit calorie intake on 2 days a week and then eat normally on the other 5. The 5:2 diet has some science behind it and it is based on fasting and the good effects this has on your body, gut and weight loss. However, many other diets are based on counting the energy of everything that goes in your mouth. For some people it works and if the goal is to loose weight it can be achieved. For others it can become all too consuming, overwhelming and can take the joy out of the experience of eating.

At Gut Happy we look at what bang for our buck we are getting on a nutritional level, rather than an energy or calorific level. Lets compare the apple and the Twirl bar to bring it into focus. As mentioned before a standard apple of 100gms has 52 calories, it also has 2.4g dietary fibre (and remember fibre is your gut friend), 0% saturated fat, 107mg potassium,  14g or carbohydrates, 10g sugar, vitamin A & C and magnesium. In comparison the Twirl bar has 11.6g fat, 22.9g carbohydrates, 22.3g sugar, 29mg of sodium, no detectable fibre, no detectable vitamin content, but does contain 2.9g of protein. So the Twirl is calorie rich with 210 calories, but is nutrient poor. The apple has fewer calories at 52, so yes it contains less energy, but provides greater nutritional value. In choosing to compare the Apple and the Twirl it clearly highlights the difference between the 2 in terms of nutrition and calories and nutritional value wins for us all the time.

Coming into the silly season of excess yet again, it might be a good time to start thinking about what is on the menu and how to navigate the endless Christmas Party’s in the run up to the festive day. We all indulge at times and we all give over to temptation, but it’s important to be mindful when eating, which is what we try to bring to our kitchens and our families all year round. Is what I’m about to put in my mouth a nutritional powerhouse or a calorie overload?

I don’t like counting calories as I feel like it makes me a slave to my food and I have in the past become to focused on the calories rather than the nutrition. What I do now is look at a meal and consider the nutritional value and I have found that it helps me to make good decisions about what goes on my plate and that of my family. I’m already planning for Christmas Day and what will be on the menu. We will have a nutritionally packed feast, but we won’t be bulging at the seams under the weight of calorie overload and we certainly will not be counting calories that day, but rather our blessings.

All bodies need fuel and energy to survive and at Gut Happy we look at the nutrition value over  the calorie count every day.

The Gut Happy Girls

xxx