What is considered high calories?

Greetings humans! Today, we are going to talk about something that many people dread when it comes to health and nutrition: calories. But not just any old calorie – high calories! You know the ones; those little energy units that everyone keeps harping on about how we should all minimize our intake of them. Well, my dears, let’s dive a little deeper into what actually qualifies as “high” in the world of calories.

A Brief Introduction to Calories

Before getting started on this specific topic, let’s take a moment to refresh ourselves on what exactly a calorie is. Essentially, it’s defined as a unit of measurement for energy within food and drink consumed by individuals [1]. This energy is then used by our bodies for various functions such as breathing or movement.

Now that we have got the basics out of the way – grab your favorite pen (or whatever writing utensil you prefer) and get ready to learn about everything from Big Macs to Caesar salads!

Understanding Nutritional Guidelines

In order to determine whether or not something contains high amount of calories, one must have an understanding of nutritional guidelines set out by different organizations worldwide. In general terms though most recommend adult women aim for between 1600-2000 daily calories with men shooting for around 2000-2600 [2]. However these ranges can vary depending on factors like age, sex or physical activity levels.

Where Do These Values Come From?

These dietary guidelines come mainly from government organisations like US Department of Health & Human Services which operates under its leading health initiative known as MyPlate [3].

This web-based educational tool helps individuals create perfect meal plans throughout their day therefore making healthier choices without feeling deprived since neither do they forbid particular foods nor focusses solely based on protein/macro nutrients requirements.

Fast Food Favorites

It’s no secret that fast food, while tasty and convenient (for the most part), usually isn’t exactly a prime example of a healthy diet. In fact – this can be echoed by some top fast food chain restaurants in their calorie options especially when it comes to meals listed as “high calorie” items.

Subway Foot Longs

Subway made headlines with their foot long sandwiches which are now known globally for being one of the healthier options on most Fast Food Chains menu list. That being said, they do have some high-calorie subs available if you’re feeling indulgent [4].

  • Big Philly Cheesesteak: 1170 calories
  • Spicy Italian: 1100 calories
  • Meatball Marinara: 960 calories

As we can see, two big pieces of bread dripping meat sauce or marinara just take up too much space on an already large caloric count. Maybe stick to that classic turkey sandwich instead.

McDonald’s Burgers & Fries

Next up we have McDonald’s Ba-Ba-Ba-Baa burgers! This iconic restaurant might not claim all its pressed meats are actually cosmic rays but contains decent burger items with calorie enumeration labelled next to each og them such as:

  • Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese Meal: over 1500 calories
  • Large Fries (seriously): almost 600 calories
  • Milkshakes/Soft Drinks fall under healthier beverages albeit also full of sugar sans nutritional value – drinkers beware!

While these may satisfy your hunger cravings temporarily, it’s important not make them the only staple within our weekly diets.

Salads – A Surprising Culprit?

Many well-intentioned dieters often reach for salad options at various eateries thinking they’re making low cal choices. But listen closely fellow humans ― sometimes salads aren’t as virtuous as one might believe…

Caesar Salad

Let’s consider a popular salad option — Caesar Salad. Many perceive it as a healthy choice, but in reality it could be lurking with extra calories.

Here are some popular chain restaurants’ versions of Caesars salads:

  • Applebees: 1050 calories
  • California Pizza Kitchen : 990 calories
  • Chili’s Mix-and-Match Fajitas: around 950 Calories

Are “High Calorie” Foods All That Bad?

It can definitely feel scary to think we might actually consume something ‘high calorie’ consciously. But let’s be clear folks, high calorie does not necessarily mean unhealthy or unnecessary.

Avocados

For example – avocados! These green fruits contain between approximately 250 – 320 kcalories per average (200g) serving based on their region and type [5]. This may appear quite substantial for those who tend to avoid products containing over 120 kcals per portion – which means half an avocado is good enough amount that will fill you up and also provide essential vitamins and minerals without worrying about weight gain.

Nuts

Another food item to consider is nuts which often have had negative connotations attached due to higher amounts fats they possess. However such foods are usually beneficial in moderate measured consumption providing polyunsaturated omega fatty acids(also known as “healthy fat”) whilst helping curb hunger pangs too!

Let’s take almonds for instance; a mere handful weighs anywhere from 150-200 kcals [6].

A Quick Nut Tip

Almonds aren’t the only nuts one should consider adding though since hazelnuts walnuts being other options with similar properties found supporting better heart health while still providing somewhat of fullness after munching down on them! Remember folks – everything within moderation!

Conclusion

So there you have it humans, a brief exploration behind what constitutes “high” when referring specifically to caloric intake/s. Hopefully, this post gave you some insight into the world of how we make our food choices. Remember though, calories aren’t evil – it’s all about moderation and understanding for your own daily lifestyle impact!

Until next time — happy munching with a mindful pinch to calorie counts my dear folks!

[1]https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263028

[2] https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-many-calories-do-we-all-need

[3] https://www.choosemyplate.gov/

[4] Subway Nutritional Information list online.

[5] NHS Avocado Food composition tables: Malaysia, US were used as comparison points in research conducted.

[6] Almond Nutrition Facts & Calories (self)

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