1. Nutrition & The Energy Balance Ever thought about calories? What is a CALORIE?

2. A calorie is a unit of measurement used to measure the amount of energy that comes from food. Just like an inch measures distance, a calorie measures energy.

3. To be healthy, it is not important to strictly count calories. Rather, it is important to understand that calories are related to energy balance.

4. Caloric balance is like a scale. To remain in balance and maintain your body weight, the calories consumed (from foods) must be balanced by the calories used (in normal body functions, daily activities, and exercise).

5. If you are... Your caloric balance status is... Maintaining your weight "in balance." You are eating roughly the same number of calories that your body is using. Your weight will remain stable. Gaining weight "in caloric excess." You are eating more calories than your body is using. You will store these extra calories as fat and you'll gain weight. Losing weight "in caloric deficit." You are eating fewer calories than you are using. Your body is pulling from its fat storage cells for energy, so your weight is decreasing.

6. Caloric Needs by Age, Gender and Lifestyle Males aged 14-16 Sedentary 2300 calories per day Low active 2700 calories per day Active 3100 calories per day Females aged 14-16 Sedentary 1750 calories per day Low active 2100 calories per day Active 2350 calories per day

7. Nutrition and health require balance. The choices you make every day add up to determine your overall health. It's important to choose foods that offer NUTRITIONAL VALUE for calories, and avoid those empty calorie foods. Today, you made a choice when choosing a snack.

8. The orange: 30 calories The cookie: 70 calories The cake: 135 calories

9. Maintaining energy balance includes being active! Let's use up those calories we just consumed to see energy balance in action!

10. On average, a teen burns 5 calories per minute of walking and 10 calories per minute of jogging. How long do you need to walk or jog to burn those calories?

11. First, decide if you want to walk or jog. Next, divide the number of calories in your snack (30 orange, 70 cookie, 135 cake) by 5 if walking or 10 if jogging. That is the number of minutes you need to complete to burn off those calories.