Do You Really Need to Count Calories?

Why it’s important to listen to your body instead of obsessing over calorie counts, according to a dietitian.

The practice of tracking food and nutrients throughout the day can create obsessive habits that take away from the pleasurable experience of eating. Years ago as a nutrition student, I remember using a calorie counting app and the recommended ranges provided were way below what I felt I needed. I was left feeling hungry and let’s just say my membership didn’t last very long. In retrospect, I can see how calorie counting apps (and counting calories, in general) put people at a higher risk for disordered eating if there’s a disconnect between what your body needs and what the app is telling you to eat. As a dietitian who helps people eat more intuitively, I try to encourage the use of internal cues paired with nutrition education as an alternative to calorie counting or food tracking. Here’s why.

How Calorie Counting Apps Work

Calorie counting apps are marketed as a helpful way to meet nutritional needs and/or weight goals by tracking food intake, exercise, and other daily activities. Many of these apps calculate calorie and nutrient goals for users based on inputs like age, height and weight. These apps don’t account for factors that can impact energy needs like medication, pregnancy, medical conditions, mental health conditions, and more. As a dietitian, I explore the variety of factors that can impact someone’s food intake in order to offer the best nutrition advice possible — something calorie counting apps just don’t do.

Head on over to FOOD NETWORK to read the full article! Do You Really Need to Count Calories?