What are discretionary calories?
the difference between the number of calories needed daily and the number eaten that day to fulfill nutritional requirements
the difference between the recommended daily number of calories and the actual calories consumed on food items that are not in a food group on the food plate
the recommended number of calories minus the actual calories consumed from the food groups on the food plate
the recommended number of calories a person should consume daily from the food groups on the food plate

When eating healthy, don't think you have to give up your favorite, guilty pleasures. The United States Department of Agriculture provides a healthy meal plan that helps you enjoy items you may think necessary to avoid. When creating MyPyramid, the USDA allowed a little "cushion room" in their meal plan for something called "discretionary calories."

the maintenance of fluid balance during exercise. author information: fluid supplementation is necessary for exercise in which fluid losses must be offset by intake to avoid the negative effects of hypohydration on health and performance.