Calorie counting is outdated. Here's what to focus on instead

Did you happen to catch that segment on a popular TV morning show the other day?  The one where they explained that there are a certain amount of calories that men and women are "allowed" to eat in a day.

I was surprised, and frustrated. I watched the segment, then decided to write about it and share some of my thoughts with you.

I was surprised because this kind of advice is still being promoted as helpful in 2025 - without any context or nuance.

Here’s just a few reasons why that messaging is not just outdated - it’s harmful.

1. It assumed all women need the same amount of calories.
Regardless of whether you’re in perimenopause, breastfeeding, working shiftwork, managing stress, or struggling with fatigue - it flattens all of that into a number and calls it “health.”

You don’t need a science degree to know that a new mum up all night, a 65-year-old woman supporting her grandkids, or someone dealing with stress and poor sleep will all have very different nutritional needs.

2. It reinforces the idea that food is something you have to earn.
This kind of language - “what you’re allowed” - trains people to override hunger, ignore cravings, and second-guess their own body’s signals.

It implies that eating should be controlled, managed, or limited - and that health is about restriction and willpower.

3. It erases what we now understand about metabolism and individual biochemistry.
We need to honour our unique blood chemistry and work with our metabolism, focusing balance and nourishment - not punishment and rules.

We need to support your individual body - not follow a one-size-fits-all number generated by an app or a panel of TV hosts.

4. It completely ignores the nervous system.
This one’s a big one. Because I work with women every day who are living in a state of chronic stress, poor sleep, and overwhelm - all of which affect hormones and then our hunger signals, digestion, weight regulation, and even energy levels.

If we’re not talking about the nervous system, we’re not talking about real health.

So here’s what I want to say:

You're not a number on a label.

You're not a machine that runs on calculated inputs and outputs.

You don’t need permission to eat.

You need food that supports your life.

You need guidance that fits we're you're at in life, with tools that honour your body, not punish it.

And if that sounds like the kind of support you’ve been craving?

My Nutrition, Mindset, Stress Reduction Coaching Program is opening again soon - and I’d love to invite you to join the waitlist.

When you join the waitlist, you’ll receive:
→ $500 off the full program when applications open soon
→ Early access to book your 1:1 consultation with me
→ First dibs on limited places before enrolment opens to the public

This work is about so much more than food.

It’s about trust. Nervous system safety, real nourishment, and permission to feel well again - without pressure or perfection.

Em xx

Bach HSc (Nutrition & Psychology) ~ Mind Body Eating Coach ~ Remedial Therapist ~ www.emmaanderson.com.au