Understanding the conversion between calories and kilocalories (kcal) is essential for accurate nutritional assessments. In dietary contexts, the term "calorie" typically refers to a kilocalorie, meaning that 1 kilocalorie (kcal) equals 1,000 small calories (cal). Therefore, when you see a food item labeled as containing 200 calories, it actually contains 200 kilocalories, or 200,000 small calories. This distinction is crucial for precise dietary planning and energy intake calculations.