Editors note: Our RD looked back at this old blog post and was not thrilled with the content. There was a heavy focus on calorie counting, and not enough focus on nutrient-density of foods. You’ll find that the content has been updated to focus more on the nutrition, rather than solely choosing foods based on their calorie content. We hope you enjoy!
How Many Calories Should You Eat In a Day
When it comes to calories, there’s no hard-and-fast rule for how many everyone should be eating in a day. It’s going to be different for everyone, based on age, height, gender, and activity level. Some people choose to focus on specific macros, like protein or carbs, instead of counting calories. We recommend thinking about the approach that works best for your own unique goals, and then using an online calculator from there. Look for a calculator that uses the Mifflin St. Jeor equation, which is the current gold standard.
Are All 200 Calorie Foods Created Equal?
Meat
When it comes to meat, options like turkey, chicken, or venison will often contain the fewest calories, but that doesn’t mean you should count out beef, pork, or other protein sources. When it comes to building your plate, focus more on including foods that will keep you full and satisfied, rather than solely counting calories. Animal protein is nutrient-dense and is incredibly satiating (thanks to its protein content). Along with vegetables, a high-quality protein source should always make an appearance on your plate.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and veggies are pretty low calorie, which means they’re something you can eat more of while still hitting the goals you’ve set. For example, you’d have to eat three medium-sized apples or two bananas to get to the 200 calorie mark. That’s a lot of fruit (and more than we typically recommend in one sitting!). Veggies are super low in calories. You’d have to eat seven cups of chopped celery or 10 cups of chopped broccoli to hit 200 calories. But instead of focusing on the calories alone, we’d recommend focusing on building a balanced plate, one that includes a generous amount of veggies, healthy fats (to help you better absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in the veggies), ample high-quality protein, and a serving or two of fruit.
Healthy Snack Ideas
If you’re a snacker who likes to munch away during the workday, or while catching up on your favorite Netflix shows at night, we’ve got some healthy snacks that will satisfy those cravings while keeping it under 200 calories.
You can enjoy three whole cups of air-popped popcorn for only 100 calories, so feel free to add a little butter or olive oil to the bowl for the ultimate movie snack that still clocks in under 200 calories (and helps balance your blood sugar thanks to the healthy fat). If you need a snack to fight the midday munchies that you can eat while working, roll together some turkey and cheese. Other snack ideas? Cottage cheese + fruit, apple or banana + peanut butter, hard-boiled eggs, or homemade trail mix.
Your Takeaway
Here at Snap Kitchen, we do all the calorie counting for you, while using only high-quality, clean ingredients and, of course, delicious flavors, because we know how hard it is to keep up with all the calories you’re eating in a day.
Whether you’re counting calories, points, or macros, or just in it for the tasty meals – Snap Kitchen has plenty of options that will help you hit your goals.
Browse our menu of healthy meal options today, and have them delivered fresh to your door!
