2,000 Calories

  The New York Times had an interesting "Upshot" column today (Dec. 23rd) entitled "What 2,000 Calories Looks Like." It included pictures from of a Cowboy rib eye steak (1690 calories) and martini (230) from Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (my favorite place!); a meal consisting of a big Italian sandwich with mayo (1088 salty calories), along with orange mango juice (250), chips (220, and loaded with sodium), and a chocolate chip cookie (220 simple carbohydrates) from Potbelly, a high-end fast food chain; and a Peanut Butter Caramel Pie shake from Sonic (incredibly, 2090 liquid calories). On the bottom was a picture of what you can eat at home for 2,000 calories, and it seemed like a reasonable day of eating: Yogurt with fruit and nuts (210), toast and jam (85), black coffee (2), a beef stir fry concoction (400), diet soda, water, a plateful of pretzels (220), a pear (100), a dish of chicken and arugula (490), brussel sprouts and squash (200), a glass of wine (120), and a couple of cookies (200).
    The point, is what I've been telling my Fitness Training clients for 20 years: eat at home! Michael Pollan, an author and cook, put it succinctly: "People who cook eat a healthier diet without giving it a thought."
     I'm a case in point. At home, I eat healthy, with plenty of wheat bread, yogurt, nuts, apples, and dates. At a restaurant? Cheeseburger, fries and a beer; or maybe a nice Jersey-style lasagna with garlic bread. Notice the difference? At home, food is my fuel. On the road, food is my pleasure. I eat a lot more meals at home!
    The article correctly points out that the average adult (depending on age and gender) should eat between 1600 and 2400 calories a day. How you get there is up to you!