Counting calories

Muscle & Fitness/Hers, Sept, 2004

How much fat is in that avocado? Do peanuts have a lot of carbs? If you've got the portable little Robi Nutrition Assistant ($30) in your bag, the answers are a push of a button away. The pocket dietary database computer has stats on more than 800 foods--everything from fruits and vegetables to drinks and fast food. The skinny on calories, carbs, protein, fat and saturated fat comes straight from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (info on fast food comes from the companies themselves). In case your favorites aren't included in the database, you can program in 100 additional foods. The Nutrition Assistant also functions like a food diary, keeping track of every carb and calorie you eat for a solid month, and will tell you how many calories you may need to lose or gain weight. To order, go to www.nutritionassistant.com.

--J.R.