nycHealthy

Cathy Nonas: Pouring on the Pounds

Do you know how many calories you consumed from drinks alone yesterday? Many of us forget beverages have calories, but oh, they do. If you only drank water yesterday, then that answer is easy – zero. But a good number of us turn to sugar-sweetened beverages when we’re thirsty – and those sugary drinks add up! Just one 20-ounce bottle of soda is 250 calories, and can contain 16 ½ teaspoons of sugar. If you think you’re doing better with the iced tea, it’s not by much. One 20-ounce bottle of lemon-flavored iced tea is 210 calories, and can contain 14 ½ teaspoons of sugar.

The reality is Americans consume 200 to 300 more calories each day than we did 30 years ago. Of these extra calories, nearly half come from sugar-sweetened drinks with zero health benefits. Sugary drinks have gotten bigger in size and there’s a lot more of them out there. In New York City, more than two million adults drink at least one sugar-sweetened soda or other sweetened beverage each day. The calories consumed from these types of beverages can lead to obesity and diabetes, and cause cavities in kids and adults. So, are you pouring on the pounds?

Cathy Nonas on Calories

How many calories did you eat yesterday? Not sure? Well, you’re not alone. Keeping track is tough, especially if you eat out a lot. Until recently, counting calories in a restaurant was like counting snowflakes in a blizzard. Almost impossible! But it’s easier now, at least here in New York City, since chain restaurants started posting calorie information on menu boards and menus.

Did you know that we spend more than half of our food budgets eating away from home – in places where it’s easy to eat too much. Calorie counting may seem like a pain but it is worth the effort. One of the surest ways to maintain a healthy weight is to learn how many calories your body needs. It’s like getting your finances under control. If you make a daily or a weekly budget, then you know what you can spend. So what’s your daily calorie budget?