Assessing Your Carbohydrate Intake Goal

Directions: Complete the following steps to determine your estimated goal for carbohydrate intake in grams to meet the recommended dietary guidelines of 55% of total calories from carbohydrate (including sugar and complex carbohydrate).

1. Enter your body weight _______ lb
2. Multiply by 15: _______ x 15
3. The result equals caloric intake for body weight (approximate number of calories consumed daily, assuming that you are not in a weight-loss or weight-gain program): _______ calories
4. Multiply by 55%: _______ x .55
5. The result equals maximum carbohydrate calories: _______ calories
6. Divide by 4: _______ ÷ 4
7. The result equals maximum carbohydrate in grams (Transfer this result to Assessment Activity 6-5, Part C, DRV column): _______ g

Example: For an individual weighing 185 pounds:

1. Body weight 185 lbs
2. Multiply by 15: 185 x 15
3. The result equals caloric intake for body weight (approximate number of calories consumed daily, assuming that you are not in a weight-loss or weight-gain program): 2775 calories
4. Multiply by 55%: 2775 x .55
5. The result equals maximum fat calories: 1526 calories
6. Divide by 4: 1526 ÷ 4
7. The result equals maximum fat in grams (Transfer this result to Assessment Activity 6-5, Part C, DRV column): 382 g

This amounts to approximately 14 ounces of carbohydrate (382 ÷ 28 = 14 ounces).