If you saw the name of my blog Easy Macro Meals, and you were wondering what the heck I was talking about, this article is for you.
What are macros?
Macros, short for macronutrients, refers to the three categories of nutrients that we eat to provide our body with energy: protein, carbohydrates and fats. Each nutrient has its own purpose and calorie content. Protein and Carbohydrates both have 4 calories per gram. Fat has 9 calories per gram.
Protein
Protein helps support muscle repair, maintenance and growth. If you are wanting to lose weight, it’s especially important to maintain the proper levels of protein intake so you don’t lose your lean muscle mass along with fat loss.
Sources of protein include foods like:
- Beef and Lamb
- Poultry
- Fish and Seafood
- Eggs
- Dairy products
- Protein powders
- Quinoa
- Legumes
- Tofu
Carbohydrates
Carbs are a great source of energy for the body, and also help provide adequate dietary fiber which is essential for proper digestion and gut health.
Sources of carbs include foods like:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Rice
- Pasta
- Bread
- Potatoes
- Oats
Fats
Fats are essential to our bodies, and we can’t function properly without enough fat in our diets. Fat can impact everything from allowing our bodies to absorb vitamins, hormone function and supports cell growth.
Sources of healthy fats include foods like:
- Olive oil
- Sesame oil
- Butter
- Fattier cuts of meat, like chicken thighs
- Fattier cuts of fish, like salmon
- Avocado
- Nuts & Seeds
- Nut butters
How do you track macros?
There are several apps that make tracking macros easy. We personally use and recommend My Macros Plus. This app makes tracking macros a breeze. You simply create a meal plan, entering in all the foods you are eating and the quantities, and it tracks your progress towards your daily goals. It has access to a database of millions of food items, and you can even scan bar codes and nutrition labels to make adding items to your tracker a breeze.
Need more support hitting your goals?
If you’re looking for a little more support with your macros, nutrition or physical fitness, we recommend Macros Inc. We personally use their service for 1×1 nutritional coaching.
Here’s how it works:
Once you submit an application, their team will hand-select the best coach for you based on your preferences, goals, limitations and expectations.
Next, you’ll have a consult with your coach where you can discuss your personal goals and needs, and your coach will put together a customized nutrition (and fitness, if desired) plan that fits your needs and supports your goals.
Then you’ll have weekly check-ins with your coach to keep you consistent and motivated. In between, your coach is available for questions, suggestions, chats and inspiration via text or email.
For a FREE 2 WEEK TRIAL and to learn more about coaching options and pricing, check out my affiliate link here: Macros Inc. FREE 2 WEEK TRIAL
Thanks for visiting our blog and we hope that you can find a little foodie inspiration here.
Happy eating!
