#Macro counter meal planner how to

“The quality and amount of different macronutrient groups might determine if your blood sugar falls or stays stable, if you have steady energy or are all over the place, and how much you eat at a sitting,” says registered dietitian Amy Goodson, R.D., C.S.S.D.

Not all macronutrients are created equal. For instance, chicken is a protein even though it also has some fat, and sweet potatoes are considered a carb even though they have a bit of protein. Most foods have two or even all three different macronutrients, but they’re categorized by the macronutrient of which they contain the most. Micronutrients, on the other hand, are the types of nutrients that your body uses in smaller amounts, like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. Macronutrients are the three types of nutrients that provide you with most of your energy: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Depending on your goals, you can adjust the amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fats you consume to slim down, build muscle, or maintain your weight. The idea behind the macro diet is pretty simple: Instead of staying under a calorie threshold, you focus on getting a certain number (typically grams) of macronutrients-protein, carbohydrates, and fat-instead.

#Macro counter meal planner how to

So what is the macro diet all about and is it something worth trying? Here are the answers to all of your questions-including exactly how to get started. , registered dietitian Melissa Prest, D.C.N., R.D.N., national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board. Meet the Experts: Georgie Fear, R.D., the author of Lean Habits for Healthy Weight Loss Keri Gans, M.S., R.D., registered dietitian and author of The Small Change Diet Amy Goodson, R.D., C.S.S.D.

The macro diet, not to be confused with the macrobiotic diet, is all about counting the percentage of macronutrients-those being carbohydrates, fats, and proteins-in the diet and hitting a specific percentage target of the three, says Melissa Prest, D.C.N., R.D.N., national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board. But more recently, macro-focused diets (also known as flexible dieting) have become popular among fitness enthusiasts and people who want to keep their weight in check. Serious athletes have long paid attention to their macronutrients-also known as macros-as a way to optimize their performance. So, how does counting macros for weight loss work? Counting macros instead of calories helps you better understand your food, ensuring that you eat nutrient-dense meals to fuel your body and mind while potentially helping you lose weight in the process.

Who should not count macros for weight loss?ĭieting to lose weight is one thing-and there are plenty of ways to do it-but the macro diet, specifically, is more than a weight loss strategy.