a calorie is a calorie?

mkb33
mkb33 Posts: 3 Member
in Food and Nutrition
do you all agree that a calorie is a calorie as long as it fits my macros? because i've been eating cookies (not that bad like 1 or 2 a day) and feeling super guilty but i think it's healthy because the rest of my diet is good. advice?

Replies

  • jayjay12345654321
    jayjay12345654321 Posts: 653 Member
    I don't see a problem. If your diet was made up entirely of Oreos and nothing else, you might have a nutritional deficiency, but a couple of cookies a day as a treat on the heels of a healthy diet are harmless.
  • fitfan11
    fitfan11 Posts: 544 Member
    Reward your body from time to time but the mindset of "a calorie is a calorie" is a slippery slope.
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    Yes, a calorie is a calorie technically; BUT 100 calories of carrots and a 100 calories of cake LOOK a lot different and are nutritionally different.
  • explosivedonut
    explosivedonut Posts: 419 Member
    Yes, a calorie is a calorie. A calorie is simply a unit of measurement. It's like asking if a ton of feathers and a ton of steel weigh different amounts.

    Now, nutritionally, cookies aren't that great for you. But who cares, so long as you meet your macro and micro nutrient profiles, treat yourself a little bit. Whatevs.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Do a search and read till your heart's content.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Yes, a calorie is a calorie technically; BUT 100 calories of carrots and a 100 calories of cake LOOK a lot different and are nutritionally different.

    Also one tastes good and the other tastes awful.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Yes! IMHO, if you can fit a treat in your calories/macros, you'll be more likely to stick with it.
  • bpotts44
    bpotts44 Posts: 1,066 Member
    I don't believe that a calorie is a calorie. For instance a can of coke is 140 calories, but so is a **** pot full of broccoli or 100 g of salmon. They are going to have dramatically different effects on your health, satiety, etc.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Eat cookies.

    Don't feel bad about it.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    I don't believe that a calorie is a calorie. For instance a can of coke is 140 calories, but so is a **** pot full of broccoli or 100 g of salmon. They are going to have dramatically different effects on your health, satiety, etc.

    This has nothing to do with a calorie equaling a calorie.

    All food isn't the same as all other food (Obviously) but a calorie is a unit of measure and to say that a calorie isn't a calorie is like saying a Watt isn't a Watt. It's nonsensical.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    A calorie is a unit of energy. A cookie is not a carrot. I don't think you should be feeling "super guilty" for eating food. Some people prefer not to eat foods with sugar in, or foods that haven't been pulled from the ground, or foods with wheat in, or whatever. Some people prefer to eat whatever they like and not pay any attention to nutrition whatsoever. An awful lot of people fall somewhere in between. Personally, I aim to get a good balance of nutrients, meet my calorie goal and enjoy the food I eat (which includes cookies).

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