With the growing trend of eating clean and healthy, it’s important to highlight an essential point: calories still count, because simply, even if you are consuming healthy items, too much of them will get you gaining weight.
Coconut Oil: A very beneficial and tasty oil, coconut oil is used in many clean eating recipes. But did you know that 2 tablespoons of it account for 240 calories? For those on a therapeutic diet plan or looking to manage their weight, it's important to use it in moderation.
Smoothies: Everyone is now drinking fruit and vegetable smoothies, which is great because it’s an easy way to get your daily servings of fruits and vegetables. However, adding too many fruits in a smoothie means extra calories, so try to use more veggies and fewer fruits to get the nutritional value without the excess calories. Do not ad sugar to those smoothies!
Granola: The serving size of granola shouldn’t be more than ¼ cup, not an entire bowl like most people do. Granola may be a healthy cereal with fibers, but too much of it can lead to weight gain.
Nut Butters: Having a snack with nut butter is great for your heart, such as spreading it on toast or an apple. But these butters are not only loaded with nutrients but also with calories, so think twice before indulging in spoonfuls out of the jar. Choose organic unsweetened nut butters.
Energy Bars: Although energy bars are great on-the-go, make sure to check the label for calories because some bars, no matter how healthy they are, can have hundreds of calories and are loaded with sugars
Dried Fruit: Another great idea for a nutritious and fulfilling snack, dried fruits usually have twice the amount of calories as fresh ones, so make sure not to overeat and buy dried fruits without added sugar
No matter what you're eating, whether it's healthy or not, it's essential to listen to your body, eat slowly, and focus on your food to truly enjoy it. This is a common tip I often share as your trusted dietician and nutrition consultant in Dubai.
