Would it be preferable to talk
about discretionary calories that could be used in a variety of ways, to stress the need for nutrient density?
Once you consume the recommended amount of servings for fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy, any leftover calories can be used
as discretionary calories.
After reviewing the proposed food patterns, she discovered that the maximum amount
of discretionary calories after meeting the DRIs for all nutrients would be 13 percent of intake — and that level would only be valid for those at the highest end of the scale (active males, with proposed intake of 3,200 K - cals).
«When all that's taken into consideration, there's a very small allowance
for discretionary calories, or what some people call «empty calories,»» Dr. Krebs - Smith said.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limiting the amount of added sugar you consume to no more than half of your
daily discretionary calories.
The more nutrient - dense your diet is and the more you exercise, the
more discretionary calories you will have to splurge on your favorite foods without going over your daily calories.
The 10 percent cap was derived from modeling different kinds of healthy diet patterns — American, Mediterranean and vegetarian — and determining how
many discretionary calories are left over for sugar after an individual ge the nutrients he or she needs, said Dr. Susan Krebs - Smith,, the chief of the risk factors assessment branch at the National Cancer Institute.
The food pyramid even allows for
some discretionary calories that we can all use to eat some «luxury foods,» including those with fat or added sugar.
The AAP's silence on this question sets it apart from the American Heart Association, which recently released guidelines recommending that children consume no more than half their «
discretionary calories» in the form of sugar.
Once people have met their recommended daily intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods, most of them can safely consume a small number of «
discretionary calories» in any form they wish, says cardiovascular nutritionist Penny Kris - Etherton of Pennsylvania State University.
A maximum of 50 % of
discretionary calories are recommended by the American Heart Association to come from added sugars.
Discretionary calories are those left in the «energy allowance» once the recommended kinds and quantities of foods to fulfill all daily nutrient requirements have been consumed.
Step 6:
Discretionary Calories • 102.
For bigger splurges, like those you may be tempted to indulge in when you go to parties, go out to eat or go on vacation, save up
your discretionary calories by eating well and not consuming treats in the days surrounding these events.