See What the Buzz is All About: Counting Macros
Chances are you’ve probably heard someone talking about their macros, whether it’s in the lunchroom, at the gym or on social media. The “if it fits your macros” (IIFYM) diet was first popular with bodybuilders who used this program to stay fit for competitions. Now, it’s popular with gym-goers and even those who don’t workout.
What’s a macro?
Macronutrients, or macros, are the core components that make up the food that we eat: carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
How does counting macros work?
Instead of counting calories, you count the grams of each macronutrient in the food you eat. A quick internet search will turn up a handful of reputable calculators designed to help you determine how many grams of each macronutrient you need, based on your health goals and activity level.
Is the IIFYM diet just another fad diet?
Counting macros is a trendy diet program, but it’s not technically a fad diet. The concept behind IIFYM is that it’s a long-term plan and it doesn’t restrict or ban certain food groups like fad diets.
As long as you keep your macros in check, you can eat healthy one day and splurge on fried chicken the next without derailing your program. The flexibility of the IIFYM diet makes it much easier to stick to the program, which is likely why it’s so popular.
If you’re interested in trying the IIFYM diet, please check with your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you before starting.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
| Total Calories | 140 |
| Total Fat | 1 g |
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 7 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 420 mg |
| Total Sugars | 10 g |
Source: USDA
Pumpkin and White Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups apple juice
- 1 15-ounce can white beans (drained)
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 1 cup water
- 1 15-ounce can pumpkin
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp. nutmeg
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- ¼ tsp. salt
Preparations
- Mash white beans, onion, and water with a fork or blender until smooth. Set aside.
- In a large pot, add the pumpkin, juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper and salt.
- Add the bean mix to the pot.
- Cook over low heat for 15-20 minutes, until warmed through.
Makes: 6 servings