When it comes to calories, not all are created equal...

One of the biggest nutrition lies we often hear is that cutting back on calories is all you need to lose weight

If you've ever tried to lose a few pounds, you may have heard that all you need to do is consume fewer calories than you burn. Unfortunately, if it were this simple, many of us would not be facing struggles to lose weight and keep it off.

To illustrate how calories can differ, consider the following meal plans:

The plan on the left is full of nutrient-dense foods. Each meal contains a proper proportion of healthy fats, protein, and carbohydrates.

The meal plan on the right is full of processed foods, trans fats, and refined sugar.

Despite being quite different in their make-up, these meal plans actually contain the same exact calories!

But, despite having the same calories, your body will respond to and process the food very differently. If you eat the meal plan on the right, which is full of processed foods, trans fats, and refined sugar, then your body will respond negatively. This means lower energy levels, potential acne, and, you guessed it – weight gain.

However, when you consume a nutrient-dense meal plan, your body processes it in a completely different way, absorbing the nutrients from each dish and giving you the energy you need.

Consume the right calories with a custom meal plan

Although strict calorie-counting can be counterproductive, it is still essential to meet your daily needs with the right balance of macros and vitamins.

We offer custom meal plans that we tailor to your exact nutritional needs so that it is easy for to hit all your goals and make the most of the calories you consume. Start by taking our survey to provide us information on your lifestyle and food preferences/restrictions.

We then analyze your data and create the right combinations and food pairings. You then receive a personalized 1-week meal plan (up to 7 weeks total), a shopping list for each week, and easy-to-follow recipes for all dishes.

A calorie isn't just a calorie...

Indeed, all calories are NOT created equal. The same number of calories from different types of food can have very different biological effects.

In a study of 154 countries that looked at the correlation of calories, sugar, and diabetes, scientists found that adding 150 calories a day to the diet barely raised the risk of diabetes in the population, but if those 150 calories came from soda, the risk of diabetes went up by 700 percent.

Want to learn more about how your favorite foods affect your body? Book a free exploratory call to talk to our licensed nutritionists!

Here is a complimentary recipe!

Ginger Chicken Bowl

Servings: 2

Cooking time: 20 min

Ingredients:

1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (divided)
3 cups Cauliflower Rice
1 lb Extra Lean Ground Chicken
2 tbsps Coconut Aminos
1 tsp Ground Ginger
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 Cucumber (sliced)
1 Carrot (medium, peeled, and grated)
1/4 cup Cilantro (chopped)

Directions:

Heat a skillet over medium heat.
Add half the oil and then the cauliflower rice.
Sauté for five to seven minutes, then remove and set aside.
In the same pan, over medium-high heat, add the remaining oil and ground chicken and cook for five minutes, breaking apart into smaller pieces.
Add in coconut aminos, ginger, and garlic.
Cook for another five minutes, until cooked through and golden.
Divide the cauliflower rice onto plates.
Top with the ground chicken, cucumber, carrots, and cilantro. Enjoy!