Calorie Counter and Food Nutrition Data (2024)

• Weight Management

  Weight management is the process and habits adapted over time to maintain a certain weight range throughout the lifespan. Lifestyle, including sleep, along with caloric intake and activity level, are all components of weight management.

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• Calorie Counter

  A calorie counter is an app or equation used to help determine the proper energy intake range to meet your unique needs. Calorie counting apps can be a great tool not only for scanning food labels, managing meals out, and logging food, but also for planning ahead by pre-logging.There are many different calorie counting apps available, and you may experiment with free trials of each until you decide on the best one for your needs and lifestyle.Note that calorie counters may not be helpful for all populations and should be avoided if they trigger disorder eating behaviors or negative associations with certain foods.

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• Micronutrients

  A micronutrient is a chemical element or substance required in trace amounts by humans for normal growth, development, and maintenance. Most people can get the micronutrients they need from a balanced diet. The micronutrients listed on the nutrition facts panel below the solid black line are those most Americans do not get enough of or are deficient in: Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, and Potassium.

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• Macronutrients

  Macronutrients are the nutritive components found in food—fat, protein, and carbohydrate—needed in larger amounts for energy and to maintain the body’s structure and systems. The nutrition facts panel lists the percentage of each of these macronutrients in a serving based on a 2000-calorie diet.A registered dietitian can help plan the appropriate split of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to meet your needs and help you achieve your health goals.

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• Supplements

  Supplements are products taken by mouth that contain some kind of dietary element, such as vitamins and minerals. Some supplements may contain a botanical or herbal (plant-derived) ingredient. It is important to note that “natural” does not necessarily mean harmless and that supplements may interfere with the efficacy of other drugs or result in adverse reactions.Moreover, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not review dietary supplements before they are available to the consumer.

  A registered dietitian can help plan and execute a supplement protocol if deemed necessary.

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• Balanced Diet

  A balanced diet indicates a meal pattern that includes adequate calories, fat, protein, and carbohydrate, as well as micronutrients, to support overall bodily function and well-being. As the nutrition facts panel alludes to, most adults need somewhere between 2000 and 2500 calories per day, but these needs vary greatly depending on age, weight, lifestyle, and physical activity.Utilizing the nutrition facts panel can help achieve a more balanced diet by creating awareness of which nutrients to increase and minimize.

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