Empty Calories

You may have read or heard of the the term “empty calories,” but what exactly are they?

“Empty calories” describes foods high in calories but low in nutritional value, meaning it’s a fancy name for junk food. They generally lack nutrients necessary for the proper growth and development of children, while also missing health-boosting micronutrients needed by adults and kids alike.

Empty calories may include sodas and packaged snack foods. A can of soda contains about 130 kilocalories (kcal) as well as additives and colorings. This means you ingest lots of calories from sugar, but not much else. Snack foods may contain a large amount of fat, salt and/or artificial additives. While additives are deemed safe by the USDA, there is ongoing research about the pending claims of carcinogenicity from large amounts of additives.

Instead of these empty calories, how about opting for fruits, low-fat yogurt, or whole grains for a snack alternative? You will be filling your plate with healthier calories that way.