Fear of High-Calorie Foods is a Misconception - Quantification is Key to Identifying Them
Modern people are paying more and more attention to dietary health, especially when they hear the term "high-calorie," they immediately steer clear. Mothers, in particular, are most worried about their children's intense love for so-called "high-calorie" foods and drinks: such as hamburgers, potato chips, desserts, cakes, fried foods, puffed snacks, cream, chocolate, and the like. Some parents believe that besides mineral water and purified water, all other beverages are high in calories. Some strict parents even completely remove drinks from their children's diets, including various carbonated drinks, juices, milk tea, hot chocolate, caramel macchiatos, and so on. The reason is simple: high calories! They believe drinking them will only have a negative impact on health. A friend of mine, who is the technical director of a dairy factory, simply limits his son to drinking only two things: milk and water.
In fact, many foods that parents consider high-calorie don't actually have as many calories as one might think; it's a misconception created by traditional concepts. To determine if a food is high-calorie, you must know its specific calorie data; you can't rely solely on surface impressions. So, what are truly high-calorie foods? I found some online resources that list the following as genuine high-calorie foods:
① Animal fats, including fatty meat, cream, fish oil, and egg yolks
② Plant oils, including peanut oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, and salad oil, which can increase triglycerides in the blood
③ Hydrogenated oil, which is like a block of soap, and after consumption, it also raises blood triglycerides
④ Artificial edible oils, such as margarine, artificial cream, and artificial cocoa butter
⑤ Refined grains, common types like wheat, rice, and glutinous rice
⑥ Honey, which contains 70% to 80% sugar
⑦ Starch, often used as a seasoning in stir-fries in daily diets
What kind of beverages should mothers choose for their children? Experts suggest it's best to understand the calorie content of foods through scientific data rather than subjective assumptions. If we don't clarify the actual calories in our food, we might think we're eating healthily, but we'll still gain weight unintentionally. Conversely, foods we consider low-fat and low-calorie might actually cause children to gain more weight.
The calories in milk, yogurt, and bread are not lower than those in carbonated drinks. For example, taking the calorie content of 100ml of Coca-Cola:
Coca-Cola (100ml) 180 kilojoules
Apple (100g) 218 kilojoules In terms of calories, Coke's calorie count is actually lower than that of an apple, yet it has long been misunderstood by the public as a high-calorie drink. Meanwhile, a bottle of green tea has about 770 kilojoules, which is actually higher than a can of Coke (about 594 kilojoules), but it is often mistakenly perceived as a low-calorie, healthy beverage. Of course, there are other foods often misjudged by parents. For example, raisins: some mothers think they are very healthy, but their calorie content is not low because, after processing, they contain no water, making them very high in calories. The calorie content of dark chocolate is not as high as milk chocolate. Eating dark chocolate with a cocoa content of over 70% will not lead to excessive calorie intake, and eating some dark chocolate every day is actually good for your health. Also, foods like peanut butter and avocado have high calories but are often overlooked by parents. Therefore, don't be afraid of high-calorie foods. Let children eat and drink in moderation. Although low-fat foods are low in calories, you can't eat too much at once, or it will still lead to obesity. On the contrary, if children want to drink carbonated drinks, there's no need to issue a strict ban as long as the amount consumed each time is controlled appropriately. After all, life itself is not about constraints, but about the experience of happiness.