C H A P T E R 3 . 2

CREATING A HEALTHY EATING PLAN

KEY TERMS

• Calorie

• Metabolism

• Nutrient-Dense Food

• Overnutrition

• Undernutrition

CALORIE

• A unit of measurement for energy provided by food.

CALORIE BALANCE1. The number of calories you consume through

eating and drinking (this is calories in).

2. The number of calories you burn through the work of your metabolism and your daily physical activities (this is energy out of your body).

CALORIES & BODY WEIGHT

• MAINTAINING WEIGHT: balancing calories consumed with calories burned throughout the day. Calories in = Calories burned

• GAINING WEIGHT: consuming more calories than your body burns.

Calories in > Calories Burned

• LOSING WEIGHT: burning more calories than you take in.

Calories in < Calories burned

NUTRIENT-DENSE FOOD

• Foods that have relatively few calories, and provide vitamins, minerals, and other substances that may have positive health effects.

**Focus on nutrient-dense food and avoid or limit foods that contain…• Solid fat• Added sugars• Refined grains• Sodium

EMPTY CALORIES

• The added sugars and solid fats found in foods that supply few, if any, nutrients.

Can you think of some examples of empty calorie foods?