What is a calorie?

A calorie is a unit that measures energy. When people use the word “calorie,” they are usually referring to food-related calories, whose full name is “kilocalorie” or “large Calorie.” Food calories are ways of measuring how much energy the things we eat give to our bodies. The factors that contribute to how many calories are in certain foods are the fat, carbohydrates, and proteins of the food item. Fat contains nine calories per gram, while carbohydrates and protein each contain four calories per gram.

Nutrition-wise, many experts say it’s important to be aware of how many calories are in the foods you’re eating. Some foods can have too many calories and too few the important nutrients and vitamins that keep your body healthy. In addition to the number of calories it has, it’s important to also keep in mind what a food item is made up of. Some foods can be low in calories but full of unnatural preservatives. – Most experts agree that choosing whole foods like fruits and vegetables is always a good idea! 

 

Another way of measuring energy is the “joule.” In terms of the energy in food, one calorie is equal to a little more than four joules. 

 

The energy in our food (measured as calories) is part of a biological cycle of energy that begins – believe it or not – with the energy of the sun’s heat and light! When the sun shines down onto Earth, it allows plants to turn that energy into their food through photosynthesis. The plants then store that energy as “potential energy,” which means that the energy they have absorbed from the sun can become available to us and to other animals when we eat those plants! We then use the energy that we get from eating to do everything from walking to breathing to thinking and more! 

 

In addition to the calorie, what are some other things you’ve learned about nutrition? For example, what are some of the vitamins you can name, and how do they help your body? In what foods can you find those vitamins? Aside from the good-for-you vitamins, what other healthy things are in the food item you’ve named? Fiber? Protein? Minerals??