Recently, many of you have been reporting a reduction in the total number of calories you’ve been eating per day. Excellent! I am glad to hear it. However, some of the “foods” you’re choosing to eat aren’t made up of what I would call quality calories.

Yes, my dear readership…there are calories that are “full” of vitamins and minerals and there are those that are void of anything other than refined sugars, unpronounceable chemicals and preservatives that will likely withstand a nuclear Holocaust. Those “ingredients” are called “empty” calories.

“Foods” commonly eaten by dieters that are filled with empty calories are 100 calorie snack packs of cookies, crackers and chips, as well as, microwave popcorn. Also, many low-fat, pre-packaged frozen meals and “nutrition” bars that claim to be healthy also add empty calories to their “recipes” to increase taste and minimize the fat. The problem is that the calories found in these items do nothing other than provide energy (that’s what a calorie is) that gets stored as fat because the body doesn’t know what to do with them. That means that they reduce your metabolic rate. Which further means that, even if you are providing your body a healthy caloric deficit (a maximum of 500 calories a day) you will most likely not experience the pound of weight loss you would normally expect.

I am aware that it is very easy to choose processed items when you want a quick fix snack or need something fast for a frantic dinner. But, if you opt for healthier choices, and take the time to prepare something fresh, your body will thank you. But if time is really an issue, why not try setting a side a week’s worth of snacks, or even meals, every Sunday? You will then have access to quick and tasty foods that are also healthy.