Discretionary Calorie Allowance - What does it mean?

When eating healthy, don't think you have to give up your favorite, guilty pleasures. The United States Department of Agriculture provides a healthy meal plan that helps you enjoy items you may think necessary to avoid. When creating MyPyramid, the USDA allowed a little "cushion room" in their meal plan for something called "discretionary calories."

Discretionary calories are excess calories to enjoy once your required nutrient needs are met. They can be used toward higher-fat forms of foods like milk, cheese and meat, and high-fat and sugary toppings such as butter, sauce, sugar and syrup. Discretionary calories can also count toward soda, candy and alcohol. If none of these foods sound enticing, they can even be used for additional servings of your favorite healthy foods.

Too good to be true? Everybody needs a certain amount of calories. When food group goals are met by choosing low-fat, low-calorie items, there are a few extra calories left over to use as you please. Consider them the reward for making healthful food choices!

Each meal plan has an allotted amount of discretionary calories. Depending on your calorie needs, your discretionary calorie amount can range from 100 to 300 calories per day. For example, if you're eating a 2,200 calorie per day meal plan, about 290 calories are allotted toward your discretionary calories. How to use them is up to you - maybe with a small order of French fries from your favorite fast food joint? Or an after-dinner dessert?

How can you increase the amount of discretionary calories you're allotted? Choose nutrient-dense foods high in nutrients and low in calories. An example would be choosing steamed broccoli, which is low in fat and high in vitamins C, A and K, versus a low nutrient-dense food such as broccoli casserole, which can have a smaller percentage of nutrients for the amount of calories provided.

Another way to increase the number of discretionary calories in your meal plan is by exercising. By increasing the amount of energy burned through physical activity, you'll have to eat more calories to meet heightened needs. Meeting your nutrient needs healthfully is still important, but with a higher calorie level goal, you'll have a greater amount of discretionary calories at your disposal.

The great thing about discretionary calories is they help to practice the mantra "all foods fit." How? By giving you permission to continue enjoying your favorite indulgent foods while maintaining an overall healthful meal plan.

zoltanszecsi wrote: »

Discretionary Calorie Allowance - What does it mean?

the difference between what you need to eat for nutrition and your total energy requirement.

For example 100g of protein, 130g of carbs and 30g of fat add up to 1190 calories, the rest are "discretionary". Or without the carbs 670 calories and the rest are discretionary.