In the UK we often refer to snacks as “empty calories”.
NOTE: This does not mean zero calories, instead it’s a term we use to describe foods which aren’t very satisfying.
For example, I might describe a bar of chocolate as “empty calories”, because it wouldn’t satisfy my appetite I’d probably feel hungry again within 20-30 minutes despite the fact it contained 300-400 calories.
Another good example is a can of Coca-Cola which contains about 210 calories – the same as a bowl of oats!
You probably don’t need me to explain that the bowl of oast would do a much better job at filling you up due to its superior nutritional content, huh?
That’s because the primary ingredient in all of the stuff we describe as “empty calories” is sugar.
Now, please note that I’m not saying you can’t have these snacks as part of your daily diet. Fuck, I still eat them! I think including them in your diet actually leads to better results in the long-term versus trying to live like a fucking robot, but it’s just worth knowing that these “empty calorie” foods make it much easier to over-shoot your calorie targets because they do a poor job of satisfying your appetite.
Further Reading:
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