Does fruit really count?!

Mcgrawhaha

everything counts. fruit calories are not invisible.

zerryz

Yep. it counts. Fruit might be considered healthier, yes.. but in moderation. Fruit is more "expensive" in cals because of its high sugar contents. Limit 2 pieces of fruit per day to balance your cal budget more easily.

corgicake

If you set your loss to a pound a week, 500 calories is your entire daily deficit. Log the fruit already.

MinMin97

Heehee, cute question. I like it:happy:

HealthyVitamins

Of course it counts.

mmipanda

I'm kind of a mfp newbie. I've been logging fairly accurately. However I work shift work, so when I work a 12 hour shift I eat a lot of snacks. Usually all being fruit, strawberries/blueberries, grapes, peach and a plum. However those alone are over 500 calories or very close to. I'm finding I'm using a ton of my calories in just these snacks at work. My question is how much does fruit count in the grand scheme of things, should I overlook the fact that they are so many calories?

it totally depends what kind of diet you're doing. I'm eating as much fruit as I want on a paleo/primal eating plan. BUT I'm not tracking calories or restricting the amount of food I eat.

Some fruits are a lot higher in sugar/calories than others. So you could cut back on the worst ones, or substitute some with veges like carrot sticks?

I guess the other thing is, are you getting a proper meal in that 12 hour shift? Or are you just relying on the snacks?

SandraMartin3008

Fruits count...They may be healthy, but they are still calories and your body will still treat them as calories. However, fruit is low in fat and contains lots of wonderful nutrients so don't stop eating it ! http://www.motivade.com/

__Di__

I'm kind of a mfp newbie. I've been logging fairly accurately. However I work shift work, so when I work a 12 hour shift I eat a lot of snacks. Usually all being fruit, strawberries/blueberries, grapes, peach and a plum. However those alone are over 500 calories or very close to. I'm finding I'm using a ton of my calories in just these snacks at work. My question is how much does fruit count in the grand scheme of things, should I overlook the fact that they are so many calories?

If you were to overlook the calories in the fruit, it will take you over your daily calorie allowance.

Fruit has calories, you have to include them.

celadontea

They totally count! But they are good for you. Maybe eat some carrots or other veggies and mix up the types of snacks you're getting if these push you over your calories.

leahgoldgirl

All calories are NOT created equal. That said, they still are calories and they do count. While 500 calories of fruit is a whole heck of a lot better than 150 calories of Doritos, they do factor in and you do have to count those 500 calories, if you are trying to lose weight.

The other thing to keep in mind about fruit, is though it is great for you and chock full of necessary vitamins, fiber and antioxidants, it is also high in sugar.

I would suggest swapping out some of the fruit for veggies, which have the vitamins, are lower in sugar and calories and still high in fiber, and maybe even throw in a few nuts (high in calories, but also high in good fats, protein and a lot of other things your body needs).

rml_16

I'm kind of a mfp newbie. I've been logging fairly accurately. However I work shift work, so when I work a 12 hour shift I eat a lot of snacks. Usually all being fruit, strawberries/blueberries, grapes, peach and a plum. However those alone are over 500 calories or very close to. I'm finding I'm using a ton of my calories in just these snacks at work. My question is how much does fruit count in the grand scheme of things, should I overlook the fact that they are so many calories?

A calorie is a calorie. It is entriely possible to become obese eating only healthy, natural, "clean" foods.

BeachIron

Of course fruit "counts." As you said, fruit has calories. Eat the fruit, and make sure you get sufficient protein and fats so it all forms a balanced diet.

Contrarian

Everything counts in large amounts.

FrankiesSaysRelax

Yes I count them. 500 calories are a lot to disregard.... if you eat it - log it x

Yep. You don't get to decide which calories count and which don't. If you eat it, it counts.

contingencyplan

If you're using any sort of logging system other than the Weight Watchers Points System (which does not attach a value to fruits) then yes you should count them. They have calories and a calorie is a calorie.

divaj87

They definitely count! Fruit adds up if you munch on it all day! Like pineapple for example, has a lot of natural sugar in it. To me, sugar is sugar and a carb is a carb.

witmer1

Everything counts. They have calories. Calories are calories, no matter where they come from.

craigerr

I am new here as well, I am eating "fruit til noon" in my weight loss plan. Definitely the calories count, but from the research I have done, eating frequent portions of a food like fruit puts your metabolism into fat burning mode rather than fat storing mode.

cwolfman13

I'm kind of a mfp newbie. I've been logging fairly accurately. However I work shift work, so when I work a 12 hour shift I eat a lot of snacks. Usually all being fruit, strawberries/blueberries, grapes, peach and a plum. However those alone are over 500 calories or very close to. I'm finding I'm using a ton of my calories in just these snacks at work. My question is how much does fruit count in the grand scheme of things, should I overlook the fact that they are so many calories?

A calorie is a unit of energy...nothing more, nothing less. All calories count; yes, you're getting more nutrition from 500 calories of fruit than you would with 500 calories of cake...but to your body, the actual calorie is just energy and it's going to use it in the same exact way, regardless.