4 High-Calorie Foods You Actually Should Eat

If you have dieted in recent history, you may have counted calories. Even if you haven’t really paid much attention to the calorie counts of your food, you are probably under the impression that more calories is bad, and fewer calories is good. While you don’t want to binge on high-calorie food by any means, calories are not the end-all-be-all of the value of food. There are actually several foods that are high in calories that are beneficial to have in your diet because of their nutritional value. Consider eating 900 calories of fast food versus eating 900 calories of healthy food: either way, you are eating 900 calories, but in the latter scenario, you are also getting more protein, fiber, and vitamins, and less sodium and fewer saturated fats. Clearly, calories are only one part of the equation. In this blog, we will go over some foods that are high in calories but quite healthy.

Pistachios

Nuts are tricky because they are high in fat. However, recent research shows that it isn’t fat in general that we need to worry about; it is specifically trans and saturated fats. Nuts are high in unsaturated, or good, fats. Pistachios are one of the best nuts to snack on because they are lower calorie than other nuts, allowing you to eat more of them and feel more satisfied by this snack. Additionally, pistachios require you to crack a shell to eat them, which slows you down and stops you from overeating. There is even research that suggests that eating a small serving of nuts every day could reduce your risk of heart disease (when paired with a healthy diet). Keep a stash of pistachios at your desk for a healthy and tasty snack.

Olive oil

Olive oil is the best of high-calorie health foods. This cooking oil is a must-have in any diet because it is a great source of antioxidants and healthy fats. It can also help with absorbing nutrients such as vitamin D. The key with olive oil is to be careful with quantity; one serving of olive oil is a tablespoon, so drizzle with a light hand. Cook with olive oil, and use it as a base for a salad dressing.

Dark chocolate

Dessert may seem like a no-go for dieters, but dark chocolate is actually a very healthy food when consumed in moderation. It may be high in calories, but is also features flavonoids that may help improve cholesterol and lower blood pressure. To reap the benefits of dark chocolate, limit yourself to an ounce a day of chocolate that is at least 70 percent cacao; steer away from milk chocolate.

Avocados

By now, you may know that avocados are considered a “superfood” due to how nutrient-dense they are. They are rich in potassium, magnesium, fiber, vitamin C and E, and are a great source of monounsaturated fats, the healthiest kind of fat. However, they are very high in calories; one avocado has about 275 calories. In the case of avocados, it is worth the extra calories for their awesome healthy properties (and deliciousness!).

Whether that high-calorie food is healthy or not, you want to spend time at our fitness center burning off those calories. Contact Spunk Fitness of a gym membership today!