Why 2000 calories diet is standard

The following list recommends some foods to eat based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans — :. People should try to avoid foods that contain high amounts of sugar, fat, and salt. The calories in unhealthful foods can quickly add up to 2, without giving the person the essential nutrients their body needs. The list below recommends some foods to avoid and limit based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans — :.

If a person is unsure of how much they need to eat to reach 2, calories, the following is an example of a 2, calorie day:. Following a 2, calorie diet can help someone plan their meals to reach or maintain a moderate weight. However, the number of calories a person needs is unique to them, so this diet might not be right for everyone.

A healthful diet includes all the food groups that someone needs to obtain essential nutrients. People should try to eat a variety of foods as part of a 2, calorie diet, rather than eating repetitive meals.

The 1,calorie diet may help some people lose weight, though it will not suit everyone. Here, we explain caloric needs and provide an example meal…. People can eat 1, calories a day to lose weight safely by adding more filling foods, such as protein rich foods, to their diet. Learn more about…. What is a low calorie diet, and what is an effective low calorie meal plan?

Read on to discover what the diet might involve and an example meal plan. How much food a person should eat depends on their height, weight, age, sex, level of physical activity, health, genetics, body composition, and more. Empty calories come from foods that have little to no nutritional value. Yet, individual calorie recommendations depend on many factors, such as your size, gender, exercise level, weight goals, and overall health.

Following a 2,calorie diet may help some people lose weight. Its effectiveness for this purpose depends on your age, gender, height, weight, activity level, and weight loss goals.

Other factors that affect weight loss include your environment, socioeconomic factors, and even your gut bacteria 5 , 6. That said, calorie restriction is one of the main targets in obesity prevention and management 7 , 8.

For example, if you reduce your daily calorie intake from 2, to 2,, you should lose 1 pound 0. On the other hand, a 2,calorie diet would exceed the calorie needs of some people, likely resulting in weight gain. At each meal, you should focus on high-quality protein and fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

While you can indulge on occasion, your diet should mainly consist of the following types of foods:. Studies suggest that adding a protein source to meals and snacks can help promote feelings of fullness and aid weight loss and maintenance 12 , 13 , Additionally, monitoring your carb intake and choosing the right types of carbs can assist with weight maintenance. A balanced, healthy diet should consist of a variety of whole, unprocessed foods, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, legumes, whole grains, and healthy fats.

However, regularly eating the foods on this list may not only be harmful to your health but also delay or hinder weight loss or even disrupt your weight maintenance efforts. Each meal contains approximately calories and each snack about calories A healthy and well-balanced diet can be both delicious and nourishing.

This 2,calorie sample menu consists of meals with whole, unprocessed foods. With a little planning and preparation, achieving a nutritious diet can be easy. A 2,calorie diet should consist of whole, unprocessed foods and be rich in fruits, vegetables, protein, whole grains, and healthy fats. Planning and preparing your meals makes it easier to eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Still, individual needs vary depending on your age, gender, weight, height, activity level, and weight goals. If you look at a food label, you will see ingredient contents compared to a 2,calorie average diet: "Percent Daily Values are based on a 2, calorie diet.

Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. The FDA wanted consumers to be able to compare the amounts of saturated fat and sodium to the maximum amounts recommended for a day's intake--the Daily Values. Because the allowable limits would vary according to the number of calories consumed, the FDA needed benchmarks for average calorie consumption, even though calorie requirements vary according to body size and other individual characteristics.

From USDA food consumption surveys of that era, the FDA knew that women typically reported consuming 1, to 2, calories a day, men 2, to 3,, and children 1, to 2, But stating ranges on food labels would take up too much space and did not seem particularly helpful. The agency requested public comments on this proposal and on alternative figures: 2,, 2,, and 2, calories per day. Despite the observable fact that 2, calories per day is below the average requirements for either men or women obtained from doubly labeled water experiments, most of the people who responded to the comments judged the proposed benchmark too high.

Nutrition educators worried that it would encourage overconsumption, be irrelevant to women who consume fewer calories, and permit overstatement of acceptable levels of "eat less" nutrients such as saturated fat and sodium.