You may have heard the term ’empty calories’ but can you easily identify foods that contain empty calories?

You are consuming empty calories when you eat foods or drink beverages with little to no nutritional value. In most cases, these are highly processed foods that contain added fat and sugar. Examples of empty-calorie foods and beverages are pastries, cookies, soda and alcoholic beverages. While we all like to indulge in foods and/or beverages that fall under this category, excessive consumption of empty calories will likely lead to weight gain and other possible health problems. When filling your plate, try to ensure a well balanced meal with whole, non-processed foods. Think quality over quantity!