While I agree food knowledge (blissful ignorance is not such a good idea either) can and will help most people, fearing most of us have no idea what we are really eating, I do worry about becoming too “calorie conscious” and missing the bigger picture of what makes a healthy diet. Calories are just units of energy and our bodies desperately need them to function well. They are not evil, do not need to be avoided and in fact are really quite interesting. I don’t believe counting calories is the secret to weight control at all (gain or loss). In fact I think it can make you feel like a big failure and misses what is wrong with most of our diets: balance. For example, you can eat 2000 calories on a diet of only ice cream, but no one would agree that is a healthy diet. If you are counting calories all day, you miss the beautiful experience of mindful eating. Our bodies crave a variety of foods, flavors and textures. When we really pay attention to each bite, we become more interested in the experience of each mouthful instead of the calories that it contains. If that cinnamon swirl coffee cake is what appealed to you, what about eating only 1/2 a slice, slowly savoring every bite? Then it is only 1/2 the calories and half the time on the treadmill and something you really wanted to boot. Just something to consider. What do you all think? Please leave your comments and join the conversation.

From Joyce in Miami, via Facebook: "Yes. I love it. Every little bit helps."

I would welcome information concerning what I am about to eat before it actually enters my body. When you prepare your own food, you know what is in the dish--not so elsewhere. I have often been very shocked to read the caloric content of what some restaurants have touted as a healthy salad or low-fat chicken dish. Staying healthy is about making certain food choices and I think the caloric count is a step in the right direction. Now, do I think some people are obsessive about calorie-counting? Absolutely! But I have a theory that they don't really enjoy food and only eat because they must to survive.

Thanks Donna. My problem is that I never developed good, consistent exercise and healthy eating habits early on because for most of my life I was, first, naturally skinny, which evolved to naturally thin in my 30ies and 40ies. Now that I am in my 50ies, I see that the "naturally" advantage I've always had slipping away. So here I am trying to fight the middle-aged "muffin top" and every eating change and every day at the gym is just torture! Any ideas for me?

I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers, having lost 33 lbs and maintaining. I really appreciate having the nutritional information available and it definitely affects what I choose from the menu.

From Lisa, via email: "Just finished reading about your NYC trip to as a calorie-wise woman.... oh, man, I grew up like you never paying attention to what I ate... eating a bag of cookies for dinner... skinny then thin.. .and now thickening (probably too much flour in the sauce)... but the whole calorie thing has me really paranoid now...it takes the fun out of it eating and cheating!"

No hot tips to being thin. I am not shining example! And yes, I was "naturally" skinny for a number of decades too and now I HATE to exercise. I would rather clean the oven with a Q-Tip than work out. Cheers!

Maybe we should start a support group!

I think a blog for ladies over a certain age wouldn't be a bad idea--a little beyond the scope of your food-related blog, I know. I need a partner for walking since my husband won't do it--maybe a walking partner matching service would be a nice idea. And having a real network of information, as seen from the tired, crow-footed eyes of women my age would be most welcomed: hair stylists who don't treat us like a 20-year old; places to buy clothing for women who aren't and never were a size 0; neighborhood eateries in which you aren't the oldest person in the room, etc.

Donna - sounds like a great idea. We've been thinking about the needs of women our age and hope to add to Kitchen Scoop what we can. We'd love for our combined kitchen here online to become a place like our own personal kitchens where we go have dialogue about real life. Keep reading and joining the conversation. Thanks!