What are macros?
Many people say "macros scare me" - and honestly, that's fair. It's just fear of the unknown.
To put it simply Macronutrients (or macros) is the collective word for carbohydrates, fat and protein.
Think of the calories that you eat through the day being divided into 3 different groups (carbs, fat and protein).
Why are macros important?
This is important because different foods contain different ratios of carbs, fat, and protein.
For example you've got chicken, which is made up majorly of protein. Whereas Weetabix is made up majorly of carbs. The lastly something like an avocado is made up majorly of fats.
Sounds pretty straight up right?
It can get confusing because most foods have mixed macro ratios - for example, cake is high in fat and carbs but low in protein, while salmon is high in protein and healthy fats.
Don't worry too much, over time this becomes second nature.
Here's a quick guide and macro cheat sheet to keep handy whilst you're learning.
Carbs
Carbs are an important part of our diet - they give us energy for activity, help us recover from the activity and generally contain a lot of micronutrients (fruit, veg, wholegrains).
Fat
Fat is a necessity in our diet. It helps our bodies to work properly, keeping our hormones in check and helping us to absorb certain vitamins.
Protein
Protein is essential too. Getting enough protein helps maintain muscle mass while on a diet and keeps you fuller for longer. You can learn about protein sources here.
Below we have created a cheat sheet to help make this easier.
Want to understand fibre too? Check out our fibre guide here (with real brand examples).
Remember...The 5 Golden Rules, on the Team RH Life Plan, are:
- Hit your calories
- Hit your protein macro
- Exceed your fibre macro
- Focus on hitting 80% nutrient - dense foods (20% treats)
- Stay hydrated
Looking for some high protein food examples to help hit your protein goal on the Life Plan? Checkout this blog here
Would you rather get some fibre examples instead? Have a read of this blog here.
