It is a known fact that with our fast food obsession, super sized portions, and meals loaded with sugar, Americans consume far more than the recommended daily allowance of calories. Studies show that on average, we consume 2,300-2,700 calories per day. This means that we consume an additional 500 calories per day and 3,500 calories per week.
In order to maintain a healthy weight, the FDA recommends that we consume between 1,200-2,200 calories per day.
Here are a few tips on how you can cut your calorie intake:
1. Read the label and make sure to know what one serving of the food item equals too.
2. Measure your food! Use measuring spoons, cups, and scales to get an accurate count of your portions.
3. Track your calorie consumption. Keep a detailed record of what you eat throughout the day and what the calorie values are. There are a lot of great online food journals and phone applications that will help you document your food intake.
If you are interested in reaching your goal weight, here is a simple formula to use when identifying how many calories to eat per day:
Goal weight x 10 = Total Calorie Consumption
For example, my goal weight is 150lbs. I take 150lbs x 10 = 1500 Calories per day.
