Calorie Counting

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Is there a down-out simple book/web site on calorie counting? I was very poor in nutrition, and since we get many diabetics coming to our clinic, I wish to start teaching more about calorie counting. At this time, I give them meal planning with the plate method, and we do refer them to a dietitican. However, due to the volume, and the lack of a full time dietitican, patients are receiving appointments beginning in June, 2008. Even the most seasoned nurses I know at my job are having problems teaching nutrition. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated (as usual).

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

The Joy of Cooking has nutritional information for many foods in the back matter. Also, there are many nutrition related websites. Here's one: http://www.nutritiondata.com/

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The ADA doesn't recommend calorie counting for the same reason that weight-loss programs have steered away from it. It's highly individualized, it's confusing and people are more apt to simply give up trying. It just doesn't work.

They recommend a nutritious, well-balanced diet with consistent carb intake and sensible portions. Pretty much what we all should be eating :)

The ADA site has some good sources and references. Also, ask your hospital dietitian and diabetes patient educator for assistance.

http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/foodpyramid.jsp

http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/diaclin;20/2/53

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Calorie counting worked for me, for the simple reason that it helped me to better understand the concepts of serving sizes and the nutritional density of foods.

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http://www.thedailyplate.com is a free website that lets you search for a food item and calculates all calories consumed for the day. You can also enter your weight, and how much weight you want to lose and it will calculate whether you are under or over your recommended calorie intake. Pretty simple to use.
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Calorie counting worked for me, for the simple reason that it helped me to better understand the concepts of serving sizes and the nutritional density of foods.
I understand. That is the point of the pyramid thingy anyway. The servings in each group have a roughly equal amount of calories, but you're not actually sitting down with a calculator trying to figure it all out.
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Specializes in med-surg.

There are several books out on the market that recommend the following method to teach people portion sizes--basically a serving of meat (3-4 oz) is the size of a deck of cards, a starch serving (1/2 cup) is the size of a tennis ball, cheese (1 oz) is the size of a domino, no need to limit greens (unless covered in cheese or dressing).

See more at http://health.discovery.com/centers/nutritionfitness/nutrition/articles/expert/largeman/portioncontrol.html

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I am using the Calorie King Calorie, FAT and Carbohydrate counter. I think it was a mistake to drop the ADA diet. In the old days diabetics used to have something to strive for, now they just eat what ever they want and it results in the kind of dietary behaviors you are describing. PS You can carry it in your purse, I DO carry it in my purse.

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I would use the ADA website Emmanuel posted. If this nutrition stuff is confusing to you guys, think about what it is for the patients. It is very confusing, that is why I just count calories. I scratch my head because my wife is doing weight watchers and you have to look up food and then you give it a point value. Next you add points up. Now if you dont eat all of your points, you remember them so you can carry them over to another day.

I think you guys should just keep it simple, I dont think you should try to change their entire lifestyle but rather pick some simple important changes they can make. It could be trying tea, crystal light, or even the newer soda products that use Splenda (long term effects or even benefits are questionable but I think they are likely a better alternative to corn syrup in soda). Trying to replace sweets or candy with other snacks such as whole grain crackers, etc. See if they can switch to whole wheat or white wheat bread. Ask them to try 2 percent or ultra skim (not skim) milk. Also they can have sweets but just so they at least try to limit them.

That being said, I have no ideas what foolish requirements JCAHO or other accrediting agencies have. If they want to give each patient a menu and diet then what can you do? But the ADA and most experts now realize that these "diets" do not work long term. It has to be lifestyle changes that usually start out small.

But think small, even if you can get them to cut out 500 calories a week (which really isnt hard) they can lose 8 or 9 lbs a year.

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

http://www.calorie-count.com

I too would highly recommend both the American Diabetes Association and American Dietetic Association websites.

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I would use the ADA website Emmanuel posted. If this nutrition stuff is confusing to you guys, think about what it is for the patients. It is very confusing, that is why I just count calories. I scratch my head because my wife is doing weight watchers and you have to look up food and then you give it a point value. Next you add points up. Now if you dont eat all of your points, you remember them so you can carry them over to another day.
That would drive me crazy.

Without clicking back on the link, the ADA food pyramid is similar to the 'regular' pyramid in that you simply aim for x number of servings per day in each category. The calories per serving in each group are roughly equivalent and it says on there somewhere that eating the minimum requirement is about 1600 calories. I forget what eating the maximum comes out to...

To me that is far easier to understand (and if done correctly, will provide a balanced diet) than trying to count calories or points. BTW, I think the worst diets have to be the ones that supply you with food. What happens when you reach your goal (or otherwise quit the diet) and you have to go back to deciding what to eat and how to prepare it?

I totally agree with you; it has to be a lifestyle change, not simply a 'diet'.

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Specializes in Med/Surg and Wound Care, PACU.
Is there a down-out simple book/web site on calorie counting? I was very poor in nutrition, and since we get many diabetics coming to our clinic, I wish to start teaching more about calorie counting. At this time, I give them meal planning with the plate method, and we do refer them to a dietitican. However, due to the volume, and the lack of a full time dietitican, patients are receiving appointments beginning in June, 2008. Even the most seasoned nurses I know at my job are having problems teaching nutrition. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated (as usual).

our diabetic teacher told me that patients can follow the weight watchers program it is easy and very similar to a diabetic diet and that in addition they should cut out sugar

nici

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