What are Macronutrients?

Many of us have heard growing up that we can better our health and manage our weight by putting together each meal in a way that is balanced. Because we are unique and individualized beings, naturally there are going to be differences in each of our eating behaviors. Learning what’s best for living a nutritious and healthful life can be accomplished by consciously observing your dietary choices and including physical activity in your daily routines.

One important aspect of monitoring dietary behaviors is understanding what classifies a food as a macronutrient. Macronutrients provide us with calories and are known as our main sources of energy, which are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Micronutrients are obtained through the foods we eat and include vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals. We need all of these categories to be present within each meal in order to promote proper digestion, adequate energy and the healthiest weight for our statures. Below you will find a quick break down of each macronutrient category.

• Our body’s main source of energy.
• Most easily broken down source for energy.
• If we don’t get enough carbs, our bodies can enter a state of ketosis. Read more about this here.
• Healthy food sources include fruits, whole grains (like oats, brown rice and quinoa), cereals and vegetables.

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