I'm not suggesting you become a slave to calorie counting but it is important to have a rough idea of the calorie content of what you consume.
I rarely buy coffee when I'm out shopping but at this time of year I love to indulge in a certain peppermint mocha! The great staff at the coffee shop will make your drink anyway you like it so be sure to mention 'low fat' or 'skinny' or 'no whip' to keep those calories in check.
For example my coffee choice was around 340 calories without whipped cream but nearly 450 calories with it!
To understand what this means you need to know what proportion of your body's daily calorie requirement this is. As an average, people need around 2000 calories a day (this varies between individuals but this gives a rough guide). So this coffee provided 17% of my daily calorie intake - nearly 20% just from a drink!!
It pays to be aware of the calorie content of our food on a day to day basis so that on special occasions like birthdays and the holiday season we can relax and enjoy a little extra food knowing we're doing our best to keep healthy the rest of the year.
Happy Holidays!
