Just a quick blurb about calories

I was talking with a friend recently who is a college student. She told me how her nutrition textbook says that for her height and activity level she needs 2500 calories per day, and she was saying quite dramatically, "Is that a typo?! I could never eat that much!!" ... apparently she thinks she eats just 1200 calories a day right now.

That conversation was amusing to me because I am eating at least 3,000 calories every day and it all fits, quite easily. I have never considered myself to have a "fast metabolism" since I do have to be conscious of my weight; but I guess I was pretty naive, not even knowing how little some people have to eat. (Granted I am 8 months pregnant, but the 500 additional calories required for that only compensate for the 500 I usually would burn working out, if I wasn't pregnant - in other words, I eat 3000 calories all the time)

That is one reason the whole calorie theory seems flawed. Obviously there are other factors. I know I put on weight when the types of foods I eat changes, but it seems to me that I could eat unlimited calories of fruit, and to some degree starches from whole foods, and as long as I am eating clean or REAL FOOD, the calories never matter.

Here is what I have eaten today, for breakfast and lunch. (I will have a small dinner today)

half a huge pineapple
6 persimmons
4 medjool dates
5 bananas
2 big handfuls spinach
2 bowls of vegetarian chili
2 bean burritos on whole wheat tortillas
1 goat cheese/spinach quesadilla

That is a LOT of food for 2400 calories. Think of how much more nutrition the above menu gives versus 2400 calories of refined carbs, oils, and animal products. (You could get 1900 calories in just 1 restaurant-size meat/cheese burrito!!!) I have already far surpassed my RDA of most nutrients.

So no, I do not believe in dieting. I believe food is Good. Calories are good! Calories are fuel! I prefer to be fueled and have plenty of gas in my tank for everything I do each day. And calories are NUTRIENTS. How can you expect your body to function and the billions of cells in your body to get what they need every day if you are limiting your food consumption?? (One of these bodily functions would be metabolism and weight loss - Yes you need nutrients for that!) Your cells cannot function without nutrients. And sorry, most peoples' diets just don't contain enough.