Vegetable curry from Thai restaurants seems like a healthy, low-calorie choice. After all, it’s free of fatty meat and packed with fresh, tender veggies. Vegetarian dining doesn’t always mean low-calorie dining, however, especially if you order a curry that’s cooked in a rich sauce of full-fat coconut milk.

Tom kha gai is hearty enough to make a meal of, but it's much slimmer on calories than it is on flavor. This soup, which usually contains coconut milk, mushrooms, kaffir lime leaves and chicken, is a staple at Thai restaurants and is simple enough to make at home.

If you love Asian spring or summer rolls, you're probably familiar with the delicate, starchy taste of rice paper, a thin wrapper that's relatively low in calories. However, you might not know that unlike wonton wrappers or other wheat products, you do not have to cook rice paper.

Starting your day with a fruit-and-yogurt smoothie is a healthy way to greet the morning, and your drink can have enough calories for a breakfast accompaniment or a full meal, depending on the ingredients.

Although tuna and whole-wheat bread are both relatively low in calories, trouble starts when you add mayonnaise to the mix. Commercially-prepared tuna sandwiches tend to be high in this fatty ingredient, and may also be served on oversized bread for a one-two calorie punch.

Whether it's made from potatoes, corn or rye, vodka's calorie content depends on the alcohol level rather than the main ingredient. All vodkas are created in much the same way, by fermenting a starch and then distilling the result.

Belgian waffles are usually thicker and have larger and deeper square indentations than regular waffles. These waffles are sometimes also made using yeast instead of baking powder for leavening.

Once relegated to specialty health-foods stores, kombucha has made its way to grocery chains across America. The fermented beverage is rich in probiotics, or friendly bacteria, and contains far fewer calories than most soft drinks and juices.

During the 2008 Summer Olympics, American swimming star Michael Phelps shared his typical Olympic diet. While it’s astounding to hear this total and realize how much food he’s really eating, it’s important to consider how many calories he was burning daily as well as his age and athletic ability.

The recommended daily intake of calories for a 16-year-old is dependent upon gender and level of activity. Teenagers need a higher number of calories as they grow, an adolescent should not be placed on a restrictive diet without consulting a medical professional first.

Tamales consist of a corn dough filled with various ingredients and then wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf and steamed.

Consuming the right number of calories is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight. Your daily caloric needs requires the use of a simple calculation, based on your height and activity level.