What does number of calories actually mean?

In simple terms, calories are the amount of energy that we put into our body to carry out various functions.
We must have enough energy (calories) to support growth and development and to reach and maintain a desirable body weight.

An intake in the range of 1200 to 1400 calories per day is considered as a low intake. This calorie level is just enough to meet what we call the basal metabolic needs, the calories needed to keep our heart beating and internal organs functioning.

As per the American Heart Association, the average daily intake of a child varies from 900 Calories/day for a 1 year old to 1800 for a 14-18 yr old girl to 2,200 for 14-18 yr old boy.

Junk food harms the system with “empty calories”. It has no proteins and no vitamins.
For example, aerated soft drinks fills your stomach with carbon dioxide and decays the food in the intestine. The high sugar content slows down the blood circulation in the brain.

You may feel full instantly and also energized, however once the energy dissipates, you begin to feel lethargic.

At the end of the day you have satisfied your hunger for food but not hunger for the essential nutrients that your body requires…This may lead to several unwanted consequences like obesity, B complex deficiency, anemia, fatigue, weak bones and dental caries.

You can definitely ensure that you don’t face such unhealthy consequences and stay healthy.

These are few tips that could help carry out a healthy school life :

• Never follow a restrictive diet to lose weight unless a doctor supervises one for medical reasons.
  
  
• Join your parents in making a wide variety of healthy food choices so that you too will learn what type of food could be beneficial to you.
  
  
• Eat slowly.You can detect hunger and fullness better while eating slowly.
  
  
• Avoid restricting sweets or desserts. Let fat, salt, sugar have a moderate place in your diet. Don't curb them completely. Simply learn to have smaller portions.
  
  
• Include low fat dairy products, lean meat, fat free cereals or breads.
  
  
• Do not have food (whether meal or snacks)while watching T.V.Try to have your food always in specified areas of your house like the dining room or kitchen.Always remember that when you eat food while watching T.V,you don’t realize the amount of food that you actually take in which may lead to overeating.
  
  
• Water is the best beverage that you can choose instead of consuming those higly sweetened soft drinks or colas.
  
  
• Even while you eat out,look out for more balanced meals.Inform your mom or dad about your lunch program so that they can pack a well balanced lunch for you.
  
  
• Include Threptin Diskettes as an ideal snack between meals which would not only satisfy hunger but also provide the nutrients required for a healthy growth.
  
  
• Threptin Micromix mixed with cold milk or water serves as a delicious health drink for all those of you who are in the habit of regularly consuming health drinks.