Macro Calculator, Agrain’s Online Nutrition Tool

Macro Calculator, Agrain’s Online Nutrition Tool

Monica Tindall

Agrain, the team aiming to change the health of Malaysians by providing build-your-own bowls of healthy cuisine, has just made it even easier to be informed of your choices with the introduction of their Macro Calculator. The online tool allows you to discover and adjust the nutrition profile of bowls by adding, changing or subtracting components to customize calories, carbs, protein and fat. Guests can pick directly from their outlets in Intermark Mall, Menara Hap Seng, The Gardens North Towers, The Sphere Bangsar South, Sogo KL or preselect and have meals delivered to their home.

Macro Calculator – Agrain

First Experiment

My first compilation of lettuce, signature thyme chicken breast, honey-glazed carrot, sundried cherry tomatoes, turmeric pumpkin and basil pesto comes in at 246 calories, 16.8 carbs, 14.9 protein and 12.6 in fat. The chicken and accompaniments are plenty flavourful and I find that I don’t even need the dressing in this combo.

I quickly learn that adjusting the base from greens to carbs quickly ups the calories. Leaves and cauliflower give me the lowest count, while pasta clocks in at the highest. I play around toggling between the dressings too. Soy lime and cilantro offers the lightest choice at only 17 calories per serve. Most of the others hover around the 55-calorie mark. You could play the same game with protein, carbs and fat, if you so choose. I’m more interested in eating a variety of whole foods so don’t go much further than the initial experiment, instead picking flavours that I think will go well together and attempting some vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free meals too.

Vegan

For a vegan option, I collate wholegrain vermicelli, shimeji mushrooms, chilli eggplant, garlic baby kalian and teriyaki tempeh. Topped with chopped scallions and dressed in soy-lime and cilantro, it comes at 286 calories, 3.4 grams of protein, 48.8 carbs and 8.6 in fat. The eggplant has a good amount of spice, and again, I find I use very little of the dressing.

Vegetarian

The next round I attempt vegetarian with fragrant brown rice as the base accompanied by an onsen egg, charred broccoli, baked sweet corn and cajun cauliflower. I top with nori flakes and toss it in green curry. This round takes me up to 394 calories, 10.8 protein, 52.6 carbs and 14.9 for fat.

Gluten-free

Attempting a gluten-free meal, herbed cauliflower rice provides the bed for lemongrass chicken thigh, turmeric pumpkin, roasted French beans and honey-glazed carrots. Sunflower seeds and pomegranate vinaigrette round the total out to 272 calories, 13.8 protein, 21.7 carbs and 14.5 fat. I am a bit of a fan of cauliflower rice and love the lightness to this combo.

Another gluten-free lunch sees chunky potato salad paired with orange-coconut salmon. Roasted French beans, turmeric pumpkin and baked sweet corn add more colour. Chopped scallions and a mango avocado dressing (a little on the sweet side) take this combo up to the highest in calories so far come in at 479. Carbs are 41.8, protein 16.4 and fat 27.3.

Working Backwards

Lastly, I work my way backwards starting with a pomegranate vinaigrette and sunflower seeds as dressing. I’m counting on them going well with cajun cauliflower, garlic baby kalian and honey-glazed carrots. Finally, I add golden-crusted white fish as protein over a base of aglio olio wholewheat pasta. Because of the pasta, it’s higher on the scale with 446 calories, 18.5 protein, 47.4 carbs and 20.3 grams of fat.

Macro Calculator – Agrain

Agrain’s Macro Calculator is certainly easy to use. In fact, you could spend quite some time experimenting with various combinations. Once you’ve got the main idea though of how different ingredients affect the nutrition content of your bowl, it becomes intuitive to build meals that fit your desired goals.

www.agrain.my/macro-calculator

Find more healthy food choices in KL here and stay up to date with the latest food and beverage happenings in KL here and here.