Calorie-Counting Diet (Calorie-Controlled Diet)

by Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD What Is a Calorie-Counting Diet?The premise of the calorie-counting, or calorie-controlled, diet is to stay within a target number of calories each day. Although this diet works well for some, most registered dietitians recommend a more individualized eating plan. Why Should I Follow a Calorie-Counting Diet? Following a calorie-counting diet can help you manage your weight and blood sugar levels. If you are overweight, reducing the number of calories you consume will help you lose weight, thereby also lowering your risk of several health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure . If you are underweight, increasing your calorie intake will help you gain weight. Calorie-Counting Diet GuideThe calorie-counting diet breaks food into different food groups and allots a certain number of daily servings from each group. This method helps ensure a balanced diet and also makes it easier to keep track of calories.A balanced diet includes a variety of foods from each of the main food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, meat and beans, and oils. Based on your calorie needs, a dietitian can help you determine how many servings you can have from each of the groups. Depending on your situation and calorie requirement, you may also be allotted some discretionary calories that you can use for foods not in these main groups (eg, sweets, desserts, and certain beverages). Alcohol, if permitted by your physician, should be limited to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

Grains (includes starchy vegetables) _____ servings per dayOne serving = approximately 80 caloriesTypeOne ServingBagel (varies), 4 ounces of a bagel (1 ounce)Bread (white, pumpernickel, whole wheat, rye)1 sliceBread, reduced calorie or lite2 slicesBroth-based soup1 cupCooked beans, peas, or corn cupCooked cereal cupCrackers4-6English muffin, hot dog bun, or hamburger bunMuffin, 5 ounces1/5 (1 ounce)Pasta, rice1/3 cupPopcorn, air popped, no fat added3 cupsPotato1 small (3 ounces)Pretzels ounceSweet potato or yam cupTortilla1 smallUnsweetened, dry cereal cup Vegetables _____ servings per dayOne serving = approximately 25 caloriesTypeOne ServingCooked vegetables cupRaw vegetables1 cupTomato or vegetable juice cup Fruits _____ servings per dayOne serving = approximately 60 caloriesTypeOne ServingCanned fruit cupDried fruit cupFresh fruit1 small or 1 cup (eg, cut up or berries)Fruit juice cup Milk_____ servings per dayCalories in one serving varies as listed belowTypeOne Serving90 calories per servingNonfat or low-fat milk1 cupPlain, nonfat yogurt cupNonfat or low-fat soy milk1 cup120 calories per serving2% milk1 cupSoy milk1 cupYogurt, plain, low-fat cup150 calories per servingWhole milk1 cupYogurt, plain (made from whole milk)

cup Meat and Beans _____ servings per day Calories vary as follows: One very lean serving = approximately 35 calories One lean serving = approximately 55 calories One medium-fat serving = approximately 75 calories One high-fat serving = approximately 100 calories TypeOne ServingVery leanEgg substitutes, plain cupEgg whites2Fish: fresh or frozen cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, trout, tuna1 ounceNonfat or low-fat cottage cheese cupPoultry: chicken or turkey, white meat, no skin1 ounceShellfish1 ounceLeanBeef: round, sirloin, flank, tenderloin, roast, steak, ground round (trimmed of fat)1 ounceFish: herring, salmon, catfish, tuna (canned in oil, drained)1 ounceParmesan cheese2 tablespoonsPork: lean pork, such as fresh ham, Canadian bacon, tenderloin, center loin chop1 ouncePoultry: chicken or turkey (dark meat, no skin); chicken (white meat with skin)1 ounceTofu, light cup or 4 ouncesVeal: lean chop, roast1 ounceMedium-fatBeef: most beef products (ground beef, meatloaf, corned beef, short ribs, prime rib)