Calories are units of food energy which you need for everything you do. The more active you are, the more calories you use. In order to live a healthy lifestyle and maintain a healthy weight, you need to have a good balance between the number of calories you consume and your activity level. Too many calories in your diet can lead to weight gain. If you use more calories than you consume, you will likely lose weight.

• Treat your daily diet like your bank account.
  Set a calorie budget. Spend wisely. Watch closely. Treat yourself occasionally.
• Snack within your calorie budget.
  Choose healthful snacks, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains most of the time. A higher-calorie or higher-fat snack means that you have to make a trade-off. Don't add snacks to a healthy diet; include them.

Food packages are home to a wealth of nutrition information. From calories to protein and fat, this information is provided to help you make good choices when it’s time for a meal or a snack.