UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

A calorie is a way to measure the energy that comes from food. Like all living things, people need energy to grow, develop, and keep our bodies running. We get this energy from food and drinks.

So, should you "count calories?" Nah. It's easiest to just follow a healthy eating style and pay attention to your body. A tip: To help balance the calories that you eat with the calories you "spend," get movin' with some physical activity for 60 minutes every day, or most every day.

Fat is a part of some foods. Picture the white, waxy stuff around a steak or on a chicken breast. Or, think of the grease that French fries leave on your fingers. That's fat. Eating some fat is important for energy and to digest some vitamins. So why limit it? Because when we eat more than we need, our bodies store it as extra weight. And, long term, all that fat can clog arteries (blood vessels) and cause diseases.

Cholesterol (ko-LES-ter-awl) is a waxy, fatlike substance that exists in the bodies of humans and animals. The body only needs a very small amount of it to help with things like producing some hormones and stomach acids. When there is too much cholesterol in the blood stream, little bits of it stick to the walls of blood vessels. This clogs them up, which eventually can lead to disease.

SALT. The biggest problems with eating too much salt, or "sodium," are pretty long-term—like high blood pressure and heart disease. But, if you've got your mind on your own healthy eating style now, it's a great time to start sniffing out the salt in your diet. There's lots of it in prepackaged foods like macaroni and cheese.