The Coach Ivy Blog

Notes from a kawaii
nutrition coach. ✨

Honest, plain-English guides on calorie tracking, macros, photo meal logging, and the small habits that quietly add up.

Food Calories
Guide · 6 min read

Calories in Dates: Medjool, Small Dates and Serving Sizes

One Medjool date is about 66 calories, while a smaller Deglet Noor is about 23. Compare portions and learn what to log when sizes vary.

Coach Ivy · September 12, 2026Read article →
Food Calories
Guide · 6 min read

Baked Sweet Potato Nutrition: Calories, Carbs and Fiber

Plain baked sweet potato is about 90 calories per 100g. See medium and large portions, carbs, fiber and what oil or toppings add.

Coach Ivy · September 12, 2026Read article →
Protein
Guide · 7 min read

Canned Tuna Calories and Protein: Water vs Oil and Can Size

Compare drained tuna in water and oil, protein per serving, and why the can's net weight is not the amount you eat.

Coach Ivy · September 12, 2026Read article →
Food Calories
Guide · 6 min read

Baked Potato Nutrition: Calories, Carbs and Toppings

A plain medium baked white potato is about 163 calories. See 100g values, carbs, fiber and how toppings change the total.

Coach Ivy · September 12, 2026Read article →
Food Calories
Guide · 7 min read

Cooked Rice Calories: 100g, 1 Cup, Brown vs White

See cooked white and brown rice per 100g and per cup, plus the dry-versus-cooked distinction that causes logging mistakes.

Coach Ivy · September 12, 2026Read article →
Nutrition Basics
Explainer · 5 min read

The 4-4-9 Rule Explained: How Calories From Protein, Carbs, and Fat Are Counted

Protein 4, carbs 4, fat 9. The short rule behind every nutrition label, worked through with an example and the three footnotes worth knowing.

Coach Ivy · August 4, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Myths
Myth check · 6 min read

The '0-Calorie Food' Myth: Do Any Foods Really Burn More Than They Contain?

Celery, cucumber, grapefruit, ice water. The negative-calorie list is old and the arithmetic has never worked -- but one item on it is genuinely true.

Coach Ivy · August 4, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Guide
Guide · 10 min read

The World's Healthiest Foods, Ranked (and Their Calorie Counts)

Nutrient density is the only ranking that means anything. Fifteen foods that earn their calories, with serving sizes -- and why the dense ones still belong.

Coach Ivy · August 4, 2026 Read article →
App Reviews
Comparison · 9 min read

CoachIvy vs SnapCalorie: Which AI Calorie Scanner Is More Accurate?

Neither app publishes an independent head-to-head accuracy figure. Here is what can honestly be compared, why correction beats first-guess accuracy, and how to test both yourself.

Coach Ivy · August 4, 2026 Read article →
AI Technology
Guide · 8 min read

How AI Calorie Trackers Work

From food detection and recognition to portion estimation, nutrition matching, and the human review that makes the result more useful.

Coach Ivy · July 23, 2026 Read article →
Accuracy Guide
Guide · 9 min read

How Accurate Are Food Photo Calorie Counters?

What photo estimates do well, what reliably causes errors, how to take a better meal photo, and what to correct before saving.

Coach Ivy · July 23, 2026 Read article →
Meal Ideas
Guide · 7 min read

21 Healthy Breakfast Ideas, With Calories, for Real Mornings

21 healthy breakfast ideas with real calorie and protein numbers — high-protein, high-fiber, and grab-and-go options for busy mornings, plus a formula to build your own.

Coach Ivy · June 23, 2026 Read article →
Food Calories
Guide · 6 min read

Calories in Chicken: Every Cut and Cooking Method

How many calories are in chicken? Skinless breast is ~165 kcal/100g, thigh ~209, wings ~203. Full breakdown by cut, skin on vs off, grilled vs fried, plus tracking tips.

Coach Ivy · June 23, 2026 Read article →
Meal Ideas
Guide · 7 min read

20 Healthy Dinner Ideas, With Calories, That Aren't Boring

20 healthy dinner ideas with real calorie and protein numbers — high-protein, one-pan, and plant-based options around 400–600 kcal, plus a plate formula to build your own.

Coach Ivy · June 23, 2026 Read article →
Habits
Guide · 8 min read

Why Calorie Trackers Fail — and How to Make One Stick

Most people quit calorie tracking within weeks. The 7 real reasons trackers fail — friction, perfectionism, bad estimates — and how to build a logging habit that actually lasts.

Coach Ivy · June 23, 2026 Read article →
Food Calories
Guide · 6 min read

Calories in Boba Tea: What's Really in Your Cup

How many calories are in boba tea? Classic milk tea ~350 kcal, brown sugar boba ~450+, fruit tea ~200. Breakdown by type, what the pearls add, and how to order it lighter.

Coach Ivy · June 23, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Basics
Guide · 8 min read

Protein for Beginners: How Much You Need and Where to Get It

A beginner's guide to protein: how much you need per day, the best high-protein foods with grams per serving, timing myths, and easy ways to hit your target without supplements.

Coach Ivy · June 23, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Guide
Guide · 9 min read

The Mediterranean Diet, Explained

A clear guide to the Mediterranean diet: what to eat and limit, the science-backed benefits, a simple food list, and how to start — without it being restrictive or complicated.

Coach Ivy · June 23, 2026 Read article →
Anime Food
Fun Guide · 6 min read

Anime Food vs Real Life: What Those Dishes Actually Cost

From steaming ramen to towering katsudon and onigiri, here's the real-life calorie count behind iconic anime foods — plus how to enjoy them while you track.

Coach Ivy · June 23, 2026 Read article →
Day of Eating
Guide · 6 min read

What I Eat in a Day: A Realistic, Fully Tracked 1,800 Calories

A realistic what-I-eat-in-a-day at 1,800 calories with 130g protein — every meal, snack and drink logged, plus how to build your own balanced day instead of copying someone else's.

Coach Ivy · June 23, 2026 Read article →
Sushi Guide
Guide · 9 min read

How Many Calories Are in a Sushi Roll? Full Guide by Roll Type

Cucumber rolls, California rolls, spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, sashimi, and dragon rolls do not live in the same calorie universe. This is the honest range guide.

Coach Ivy · June 20, 2026 Read article →
App Reviews
Review · 10 min read

Best Free Calorie Tracker App in 2026: Ranked & Honestly Reviewed

The best food tracking apps of 2026 ranked and honestly reviewed — Coach Ivy, MyFitnessPal, Cronometer, Lose It, and Cal AI.

Coach Ivy · June 17, 2026 Read article →
Korean Food
Guide · 7 min read

Bibimbap Nutrition Facts: Calories, Protein, Carbs & Smart Swaps

Plain bibimbap can sit around 400 to 500 calories. Add beef, egg, oil, and a full squeeze of sauce and the bowl changes fast. Here is the honest breakdown.

Coach Ivy · June 20, 2026 Read article →
Korean Food
Guide · 8 min read

Korean BBQ Calories: What KBBQ Actually Adds Up To

Pork belly is only part of the story. Rice, sauces, and the “one more round” effect are what make Korean BBQ trickier to estimate than it looks.

Coach Ivy · June 20, 2026 Read article →
Recipe Guide
Guide · 8 min read

Low-Calorie Korean Recipes: 12 Easy Meals That Still Feel Satisfying

Stews, tofu, soups, cucumber salads, and lighter rice bowls that keep Korean flavor without spending calories on the parts you barely notice.

Coach Ivy · June 20, 2026 Read article →
Gut Health
Guide · 6 min read

How Much Kimchi Should You Eat Per Day for Gut Health?

There is no magic dose. A practical guide to kimchi, probiotics, sodium, and why small regular servings usually beat giant “health food” portions.

Coach Ivy · June 20, 2026 Read article →
Street Food
Guide · 6 min read

Tteokbokki Nutrition Facts: Calories, Carbs & How to Log It

Chewy rice cakes and sweet-spicy sauce make tteokbokki more calorie-dense than it looks. Here is how to estimate plain, cheesy, and ramen-heavy versions.

Coach Ivy · June 20, 2026 Read article →
Comparison
Comparison · 9 min read

Online Nutrition Coaching vs an AI Calorie Tracker

A 1:1 coach costs $200–500/month. An AI tracker costs $0–10/month. Honest side-by-side comparison of what each delivers, who they fit, and the hybrid that works.

Coach Ivy · June 20, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Guide
Guide · 12 min read

High Calorie Foods: The Complete List

Complete guide to high calorie foods — nuts, oils, dairy, grains, proteins, and more. Calorie tables per 100g and per serving for every major category. Healthy...

Coach Ivy · June 17, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Guide
Guide · 5 min read

How Many Calories Are in Grapes? Per Grape, Per Cup, Per 100g

Grapes have about 62 calories per cup (92g), 3 calories per grape, and 69 kcal per 100g. Full breakdown by variety, serving size, and how they compare to other...

Coach Ivy · June 17, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Guide
Guide · 8 min read

Calories in Butter: Teaspoons, Tablespoons, Pats and Sticks

One tablespoon of butter has about 102 calories. Convert teaspoons, tablespoons, grams, pats and sticks, then compare butter with olive oil and margarine.

Coach Ivy · June 17, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Basics
Guide · 5 min read

kcal vs Calories: What's the Difference?

kcal and calories mean the same thing on food labels — but the science has a nuance. Here's the plain-English explanation, why it matters for tracking, and how...

Coach Ivy · June 17, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Tips
Guide · 8 min read

High Calorie Snacks: 12 Healthy Foods for Weight Gain

Gaining weight or building muscle doesn't mean eating junk. Here are 12 healthy, calorie-dense snacks to hit your goals without feeling uncomfortably full.

Coach Ivy · June 16, 2026 Read article →
App Reviews
Review · 12 min read

Best AI Calorie Tracker Apps in 2026: Ranked & Honestly Reviewed

We tested Coach Ivy, MyFitnessPal, Lose It, Cal AI, Foodvisor, and Cronometer. Here's the honest ranking with pros, cons, and who each app is for.

Coach Ivy · May 27, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Guide
Guide · 9 min read

How Many Calories Are in Eggs? Every Preparation Method, Ranked

Exact calorie counts for every way to cook an egg — boiled, poached, fried, scrambled, omelets, and more — ranked from lowest to highest.

Coach Ivy · May 27, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Tools
Guide · 8 min read

Calorie Tracker Spreadsheet: The Cute, Honest Guide to Tracking Without Burning Out

A calorie tracker spreadsheet that actually makes sense. Coach Ivy's plain-English guide to tracking calories, protein, and meals — simple, free, and easy to...

Coach Ivy · May 27, 2026 Read article →
Nutrition Guide
Guide · 6 min read

How Many Calories Are in Korean Food? A Full Breakdown

Calorie ranges for the most popular Korean dishes — bibimbap, bulgogi, samgyeopsal, japchae, tteokbokki, corn dogs and more — plus what to order when you're...

Coach Ivy · April 3, 2026 Read article →