Carbs or Calories?

pielattes1

I am trying to maintain my weight, and as I go, I have come across the question: If given two meals (roughly the same meal prepared in two different ways/with slightly varying ingredients. Is it better to choose the lower calorie meal with slightly higher carbohydrates or the lower calorie meal with slightly higher carbohydrates?

Psychgrrl

As long as you're eating at maintenance, and have no medical reason to restrict carbs, choose the one you like best, which gives the best nutritional value and/or which one you find most satisfying.

Or alternate.

Maintain your weight with whatever eating plan you can sustain long-term (and one that sustains you).

estherdragonbat

Whichever one helps you meet your goals. It's pretty individual. I personally tend to stay full on higher protein and carbs, and lower (not low) fat. There are plenty of people who find that carbs make them feel less-satiated and prefer low-carb. Best bet is to experiment and see what works for you.

(It may be relevant to point out that I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian and generally take in a lot of carbs with my protein.)

pielattes1

I am an ovo vegetarian, so I do quite well (feel satisfied with eggs as my protein). When I say "carbs", and the recipes I am referencing, the carbs are coming from a vegetables (pumpkin) or vegan protein powder. The protein powder has 38g of carbs for the meal with a lower caloric total (320), and the second recipe has pumpkin which contributes ~27g carbs with a higher caloric content (397).

rmgnow

Souch a silly question.

2 steaks. Both same calories, do I eat the one with higher fat?
2 chocolate same calories, do I eat the one with higher sugar?

None of this matters unless you are deficient in some other area that you're not revealing

cs2thecox

Personally I feel fuller for longer on more proteins and fats, so I'd be inclined to go for the lower carb version, despite the slightly higher calories.

I think it's a totally individual preference as to which macros make you happier (in your head as much as your body!) and how sensitive to the volume of food on your plate you are - the higher carb version may well look bigger than the lower carb one!

valkongr

Try it , really. No words can replace experience. I tried keto for 3 months and hated every single day.

TavistockToad

pielattes1 wrote: »

I am trying to maintain my weight, and as I go, I have come across the question: If given two meals (roughly the same meal prepared in two different ways/with slightly varying ingredients. Is it better to choose the lower calorie meal with slightly higher carbohydrates or the lower calorie meal with slightly higher carbohydrates?

i think you've typed that wrong... both options are the lower calorie meal with slightly higher carbs...?

rheddmobile

Do you have a problematic relationship with carbs, such as insulin resistance or cravings related to carbs? If not, and you are just wondering about this because someone told you to watch out for carbs so you think you should, then stop worrying about it and eat what you like within your nutritional needs.

2DUNNY

i would chose lower carbs, higher cal.
i am LCHF.

mmapags

If both keep you at maintenance, it Doesn't matter. Pick what you like.

mmapags

TavistockToad wrote: »

pielattes1 wrote: »

I am trying to maintain my weight, and as I go, I have come across the question: If given two meals (roughly the same meal prepared in two different ways/with slightly varying ingredients. Is it better to choose the lower calorie meal with slightly higher carbohydrates or the lower calorie meal with slightly higher carbohydrates?

i think you've typed that wrong... both options are the lower calorie meal with slightly higher carbs...?

Lol!

KANGOOJUMPS

hmm,well I love my carbs, but they are my fuel to burn 1000 calories a day!

pielattes1

rheddmobile wrote: »

Do you have a problematic relationship with carbs, such as insulin resistance or cravings related to carbs? If not, and you are just wondering about this because someone told you to watch out for carbs so you think you should, then stop worrying about it and eat what you like within your nutritional needs.

No, I am not insulin resistant, I was just wondering about carbs/calories. Yes, they are both not breaking the bank with calories, I was just wondering about choosing carbs or calories.

TonyB0588

The MFP program is all about Calorie Deficit. You can monitor your calories and ignore everything else unless there's some other medical condition requiring you to restrict consumption of certain foods.

For example, diabetics need to be careful about sugar intake and carbs as well, while hypertensives should be cautious about sodium.

pielattes1

TonyB0588 wrote: »

The MFP program is all about Calorie Deficit. You can monitor your calories and ignore everything else unless there's some other medical condition requiring you to restrict consumption of certain foods.

For example, diabetics need to be careful about sugar intake and carbs as well, while hypertensives should be cautious about sodium.

Thank you, Toni. That was my question, what should I be focusing on. So, calories are the primary to be focused on watching and keeping within my TDEE.