Breads and Grains

cobalt108

I try to stay away from bread and other processed carbohydrates as much as possible. Anything that is ‘empty’ calories.
I do like steel cut oats, but every day and susually only in winter.
If your concerned about daily limit, I’d try to go for whatever has most bang for your nutritional buck. For example, I still crave pita with my hummus. Instead of getting regular pita I go for Joseph’s. It comes in mini pita sizes, is lower carbs and higher protein with flax and other good stuff in there. It helps me kind of bridge the gap.
If you can’t/don’t want to give up bread then I’d say 1-2 servings a week or just holidays/special occasions and have it in the morning only.

amusedmonkey

cobalt108 wrote: »

I try to stay away from bread and other processed carbohydrates as much as possible. Anything that is ‘empty’ calories.
I do like steel cut oats, but every day and susually only in winter.
If your concerned about daily limit, I’d try to go for whatever has most bang for your nutritional buck. For example, I still crave pita with my hummus. Instead of getting regular pita I go for Joseph’s. It comes in mini pita sizes, is lower carbs and higher protein with flax and other good stuff in there. It helps me kind of bridge the gap.
If you can’t/don’t want to give up bread then I’d say 1-2 servings a week or just holidays/special occasions and have it in the morning only.

Bread and such are the opposite of empty calories for me, personally. It's vital to my satiety and diet adherence. It's not that I can't/don't want to give up bread, I just don't consider it something that needs to be given up. Nutrition is a product of a diet, not a single food in isolation. People may choose to eat less of it/cut it out if they don't feel it's worth the calories for them, but that doesn't mean those who can eat a satisfying nutritious diet including bread are doing something wrong.

Instead of suggesting what and how much of a food others should eat, a better advice would be to suggest people eat an overall balanced diet, and choosing whatever foods helps them achieve that sustainably in whatever quantity that fits their needs.

yirara

cobalt108 wrote: »

I try to stay away from bread and other processed carbohydrates as much as possible. Anything that is ‘empty’ calories.
I do like steel cut oats, but every day and susually only in winter.
If your concerned about daily limit, I’d try to go for whatever has most bang for your nutritional buck. For example, I still crave pita with my hummus. Instead of getting regular pita I go for Joseph’s. It comes in mini pita sizes, is lower carbs and higher protein with flax and other good stuff in there. It helps me kind of bridge the gap.
If you can’t/don’t want to give up bread then I’d say 1-2 servings a week or just holidays/special occasions and have it in the morning only.

Bread are not empty calories. Some people get very full from bread. Others don't of course. Other people don't feel full from protein or fat. Some people are volume eaters, others are not. It's totally individual.

littlegreenparrot1

Mmmm, lovely bread in all it's delicious forms.
I certainly don't consider it to be empty calories, I often get whole grain and seeded varieties, rye bread etc.

Oats always for breakfast, lunch often features bulghar wheat, pearl barley, cous cous, sometimes flat bread, or bread rolls. Dinner is more likely to include potato, sometimes other root veg.

You just need to fit in what you like and works for you. Other people talk about fitting in fast food or soda, I don't care for those things so am not bothered. But no-one will convince me to give up bread

AnnPT77

cobalt108 wrote: »

I try to stay away from bread and other processed carbohydrates as much as possible. Anything that is ‘empty’ calories.
I do like steel cut oats, but every day and susually only in winter.
If your concerned about daily limit, I’d try to go for whatever has most bang for your nutritional buck. For example, I still crave pita with my hummus. Instead of getting regular pita I go for Joseph’s. It comes in mini pita sizes, is lower carbs and higher protein with flax and other good stuff in there. It helps me kind of bridge the gap.
If you can’t/don’t want to give up bread then I’d say 1-2 servings a week or just holidays/special occasions and have it in the morning only.

The last bread I ate was 100 calories, 7g protein, 4g fiber, 130mg potassium, 25% vitamin A. How is something like that "empty calories"?

What matters is the nutrition in one's overall eating, within calorie goal, not whether any individual food is some special kind of "good". Well-rounded nutrition is IMO super important (for health, not so much for weight loss), but once sound nutrition is in place, there's not extra credit for eating more broccoli (or "superfood" of choice).

Furthermore, compliance with calorie goal is a huge part of weight management. When people cut out foods they enjoy and find filling, tasty or otherwise satisfying, it becomes more difficult to comply with a calorie goal. Since attaining a healthy weight is one of the most important factors for health, that's not necessarily a helpful strategy.

Certainly, we need to reduce something or make some changes in order to reduce calories, and it's a Good Plan to get overall good nutrition, but rigid rules about "good" or "bad" individual foods are IMO not especially helpful. It's just food, not sin and expiation.

OP, if you enjoy bread (or other grains), eat some. Just figure out how much is worth the calorie "cost", within your overall nutrition picture. You'll be fine.

glassyo

The white (Yes. I. Said. White.) bread I eat has 4g of protein and 1 of fiber (but I keep my fiber low) in a 100 calorie serving so...empty calories my not much there anymore lilly white buttockular region.

amorfati601070

So much, like 77% of my diet.

Carbs are love, carbs are life.

whmscll

I eat 200 to 250 grams of carbs daily, including cerealor oatmeal for breakfast every day, usually a sandwich for lunch, and 1/2 cup of rice or pasta, or a starchy vegetable like squash for dinner. Plus a huge salad with dinner and usually at least one piece of fruit for a snack. I am a frustrated, irritable person when I limit carbs too much.

nooshi713

I’m not huge on bread. Some days I have 2 pieces of toast or a hamburger bun or pita bread. I eat rice and beans or lentils most days. I eat pasta once a week or so. I eat oats, barley, or quinoa sometimes as well. On an average day, I probably eat about 2-5 servings of grains plus soy and legumes. I’m plant based so I eat a lot of carbs.

estherpotter1

2 slices at night gets rid of my late night hunger sometimes.

yirara

littlegreenparrot1 wrote: »

Mmmm, lovely bread in all it's delicious forms.
I certainly don't consider it to be empty calories, I often get whole grain and seeded varieties, rye bread etc.

Oats always for breakfast, lunch often features bulghar wheat, pearl barley, cous cous, sometimes flat bread, or bread rolls. Dinner is more likely to include potato, sometimes other root veg.

You just need to fit in what you like and works for you. Other people talk about fitting in fast food or soda, I don't care for those things so am not bothered. But no-one will convince me to give up bread

Oooh, a rhye bread with a thick, hard crust. Or a fresh French baguette with good butter and a thick slab of local ham. It's heaven!

nighthawk584

I eat 200-300 carbs daily , most of which is Popcorn! Whole grain goodness. (and yes, I usually eat whole grain bread at least once a day.)

janejellyroll

cobalt108 wrote: »

I try to stay away from bread and other processed carbohydrates as much as possible. Anything that is ‘empty’ calories.
I do like steel cut oats, but every day and susually only in winter.
If your concerned about daily limit, I’d try to go for whatever has most bang for your nutritional buck. For example, I still crave pita with my hummus. Instead of getting regular pita I go for Joseph’s. It comes in mini pita sizes, is lower carbs and higher protein with flax and other good stuff in there. It helps me kind of bridge the gap.
If you can’t/don’t want to give up bread then I’d say 1-2 servings a week or just holidays/special occasions and have it in the morning only.

The bread I eat has fiber and vitamins. I'm not sure how you define that as "empty calories."