A Calorie is a Calorie BUT.....

There are still some issues to consider when figuring out an eating plan. Yes, recent research says a calorie is a calorie BUT:

(1) Some people do not burn carbohydrates quite efficiently or easily but they do burn fat efficiently, while for others the reverse is true. So the components of those calories you eat may be very important if you are trying to drop weight.

(2) Obviously the quality of the calories can have a great impact on your health - so you can't compare a diet of 1600 calories of highly processed food to a 1600 calorie diet of high fiber, healthy fat choices, healthy protein choices. They aren't "equals" in terms of health.

(3) I still suspect - and I'm sure science would support another reality - if the diet, however cautious in calories, is highly processed, you will have blood sugar swings that won't feel good and you may be more at risk for relentless hunger with those huge blood sugar downswings. Which means....eating more than you're supposed to eat.

So the bottom line?

If you are trying to lose weight you absolutely do need to count calories. At the same time, considering choices like high fiber/whole grains when it comes to carbs, fruits and veggies, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, lean and also non-meat proteins and fat free dairy products can go a long way in satisfying taste, being economical, promoting health and even being "green."