Proper body nourishment means more than hitting that calorie count. It’s also about the sources of your energy — the macronutrients or macros. What are macros in food? These are your carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Compared to micronutrients like vitamins and minerals, you need macros in large amounts because they are essential for life sustenance and maintaining health (5).
We prepared a macro food list that will help you tell which food has which macro, thus, making meal-planning and grocery shopping times easier! So let’s sort them out.
Macros are interchangeable meaning your body can use only one source of energy in the absence of others. However, to stay healthy, you need a combination of fats, carbs, and protein. That’s why you should consult with a dietitian or a doctor before strictly limiting or cutting out a certain group of foods.
The general consensus on the ratio of macros for a healthful diet is (3, 4):
But this is not a golden rule. Tweaking the ratio to fit health conditions or fitness goals is normal. Historically, humans had vastly different proportions of macronutrients depending on region, food culture and time period (2).
While you can find different recommendations of macros online, it’s still inconclusive. We recommend to:
Keep in mind that certain foods can be a source of several macros, so tracking macros gram by gram is only possible with a good digital tracker like BetterMe’s. But you can stick to the ratios of suggested foods in your meal and still experience a vast improvement in your diet.
Read More: Macros For Weight Loss And Muscle Gain: Eating The Right Quantities To Reach Your Body Goals
You have probably heard that carbs are the main source of energy for the human body. Main reasons why:
Essentially, carbs are sugar molecules, but they come in different shapes with some being better for you than others (1).
So choosing carbohydrate-rich food, rely on complex carbs rather than simple ones. Also, try to avoid processed foods with added sugars.
Western culture marks “low-fat” as good and “fatty” as bad. Yet, your body needs fat to function properly and in larger amounts than protein. Dietary fats provide fatty acids that are not produced within the body and help absorb many vitamins (5).
But the type of fat does matter. According to The Nutrition Source by Harvard, the rule of thumb is to:
Following these recommendations lowers disease risks.
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The smallest fraction falls for protein because our organism can’t store it and turns leftovers into body fat (5). Yet, we can get nine essential amino acids only from dietary protein, so make sure to meet your daily protein goal (6). Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins which are needed to build and repair the body’s tissues.
When choosing between plant- and animal-based protein, the former is a safer option because animal products usually contain saturated fats (6). But no need to worry, in our cheat “sheet of macro” food list, we included lean animal-based protein sources to pick from.
Now, we’ve answered the question “what are macronutrients?” What’s next?
Read More: 4 Macronutrients: A Simple Guide to Macros
Our macro list for food contains the best sources of each macronutrient, so you can plan your meals and know what to reach for at the grocery store. As each category is so varied, this macro friendly food list is not exhaustive but rather meant to give you an idea of how many options you have for a balanced diet!
Fiber-Rich Products | Whole Grains |
---|---|
Green peas | Whole-grain bread |
Broccoli and cauliflower | Oats |
Brussels sprouts | Whole-grain/wheat pasta |
Sweet corn | Brown rice and buckwheat |
Beans | Quinoa |
Chia seeds | |
Berries (raspberries, strawberries) | |
Apples | |
Oranges | |
Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach) |
Unsaturated | Saturated |
---|---|
Nuts and nut butter | Red meat |
Vegetable oils (excluding palm and coconut) | Butter and full-fat dairy |
Avocados | |
Fish |
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Lean | Higher Fat |
---|---|
Legumes (beans, peas, lentils) | Salmon |
Plain yogurt (especially Greek) | Other dairy products (also a source of carbs) |
White-meat poultry (chicken and turkey breast without skin) | Nuts |
Tofu | Steak |
Lean beef | Chicken wings and thighs |
Eggs | Pork meat |
Seafood (shellfish, scallops) | |
White-fleshed fish (cod, tilapia) and tuna |
Understanding what’s on your plate is the first step to being more mindful about nutrition. An app like BetterMe makes calculating your needs and tracking daily macros easy. However, you can use a macro diet food list to compose healthy balanced meals with all three necessary macronutrients without too much hassle.
So as long as you keep the macros in mind, you craft a varied diet that’s both enjoyable and brings you closer to your goals.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!