Empty Calorie

Empty calories, in casual dietary terminology, are a measurement of the digestible energy present in high-energy foods with poor nutritional profiles, with most of the energy typically coming from processed carbohydrates, fats, or ethanol. Also known as a discretionary calorie, an "empty calorie" has the same energy content as any other calorie but lacks many accompanying nutrients such as vitamins, dietary minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, or dietary fiber. Although carbohydrates, fats and water are also nutrients, they are typically ignored for this analysis, with the exception of essential fatty acids.

Caloric intake must be balanced with activity to maintain a proper weight, so sedentary individuals and individuals who are eating fewer calories in an effort to lose weight should not substitute foods high in vitamins and minerals with empty calorie foods as eating too few vitamins and minerals may lead to chronic diseases. Dietitians and nutritionists prevent or treat illnesses by designing eating programs and recommending dietary modifications according to patients' needs. To protect against chronic illness and maintain a healthy immune system, The American Dietetic Association recommends eating a variety of nutrient rich foods every day.

The following foods are often considered to contain mostly empty calories and may lead to weight gain:

• Cake, cookies, sweets, candy, ice cream, soft drinks, fruit-flavored beverages and jello and other foods containing added sugar
• Refined grains, such as white bread or white rice
• Margarine or shortening
• Butter, lard, dripping and other saturated fat
• Beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages