Calorie Counting Guide: Intake for Muscle & Weight Loss

Determining how many calories you need depends on your fitness goals, whether you are a marathon runner or a weightlifter. Use intake formulas to calculate your needs for muscle gain or sustainable weight loss.

Close up on an appetizing cheeseburger

How Many Calories Are in a Cheeseburger?

Cheeseburgers are an indulgence, but knowing how many calories they contain can help you fit them into your diet occasionally. This is easiest to do if you opt for a small regular cheeseburger instead of a large double cheeseburger.

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Homemade Lobster Bisque Soup

Calories in Lobster Bisque

Soups can be a nutritious way to start off a meal, helping to fill you up so you eat fewer calories overall during your meal. Unlike most types of liquids, soups are actually as filling as solid foods, according to a study published in "Physiology & Behavior" in January 2005.

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Chipolte Turkey Chili Serving

Calories in Turkey Chili With Beans

Using ground turkey in place of beef can help you decrease the number of calories in your favorite chili recipe. The number of calories will vary based on the recipe, as different recipes contain different proportions of turkey and beans, the two main sources of calories in this dish.

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Pan with fresh cooked mussels

Calories in Mussels

Mussels by themselves are very nutritious and filled with essential nutrients. They aren't very high in calories if you steam them, which is one of the more typical ways to prepare these shellfish. Cooking them in a cream sauce or stuffing them, however, will greatly increase their calorie content.

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Spinach Dip

How Many Calories Are in Spinach Dip?

From the name, you might think that spinach dip is a healthy, low-calorie choice. Take a close look at the ingredients list, however, and you'll realize this dip can pack a lot of calories.

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braised beef pot roast stew with vegetables on table

The Calories in Pot Roast

Pot roast is typically made by browning and then slowly simmering a cut of beef with a mix of vegetables and spices in liquid. The result tends to be high in calories in part because of the large serving sizes.

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steamed crab legs

How Many Calories in One Pound of Snow Crab Legs?

Snow crabs are one of the more environmentally friendly seafood choices, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. These crabs also provide a number of essential nutrients, including selenium, copper, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, niacin, riboflavin and vitamins B-12 and C.

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burger

How Many Calories Does a Hamburger Have?

Most people know that hamburgers aren't particularly low in calories, but if you load them with toppings or supersize your burger you'll get a meal's worth of calories from the burger alone. If you complete your meal with a large order of fries and an extra-large soda, you could use up your day's calorie allotment.

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Mature man sniffing brandy from snifter

How Many Calories Are in Brandy Alcohol?

Alcohol calories can really add up, as each gram of alcohol contains 7 calories, which is more than the 4 calories per gram in carbohydrates and protein but less than the 9 calories per gram in fat.

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Platter of grilled eggplant with garlic and dill

Calories in Baked Eggplant

Eggplant provides significant amounts of fiber and manganese, a mineral that acts as an antioxidant. As long as you don't load the eggplant down with fat by frying it with oil or adding fatty toppings such as cheese, it is also relatively low in calories.

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spaghetti

Calories in Spaghetti With Meat Sauce

The exact calorie content of spaghetti with meat sauce will depend on the type of pasta and the type of ground meat you use in your sauce, as well as your portion size.

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spaghetti and meatballs

The Calories in Meatballs

The calories in pan-fried meatballs made with beef, pork or lamb can really add up if you don't watch your serving size. Making your meatballs with lower-calorie ingredients, such as chicken, turkey or fish, and baking or steaming them can help you limit the amount of calories you consume.

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Penne Alla Vodka

The Calories in Penne Alla Vodka

Penne alla vodka consists of penne topped with Parmesan cheese and a tomato-based sauce containing crushed red pepper, cream and vodka. As with any pasta dish, a large part of controlling the number of calories you consume is watching your serving size.

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Bowl of cheerios  with  strawberries

Calories in Cheerios With Milk

Eating breakfast helps you control your weight, gives you energy and helps you concentrate. A whole-grain cereal, such as Cheerios, served with milk can be part of a nutritious breakfast, especially if you also eat a serving of fruit.

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chinese food - bowl of wonton soup

Calories in Egg Drop and Wonton Soup

Starting off your meal with a broth-based soup, such as egg drop or wonton soup, can help you fill up with fewer calories since they are low in energy density, or calories per gram.

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