Battle of the Sexes: Men vs Women Nutrient Needs

With men and women so different, it's no surprise that good eats and good nutrition for the fairer sex follows a different formula than the list of foods good for dudes.

Calorie recommendations for men and women.

Maureen Callahan, RD, MS

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Calories

It all starts out being equal, but around age 10 puberty delivers a whopping blast of testosterone to boys, bulking up their muscle mass. In the realm of "life isn't fair" scenarios, this larger muscle mass ratchets up calorie requirements. By adulthood men have up to 20% more muscle than women, widening the calorie gap.

He needs: An average 175-pound (moderately active) man needs 2800 calories.

She needs: An average 125-pound (moderately active) woman needs 2000 calories.

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