" Free Foods" ?

daltem

Do you have any foods that you consider " free" - rather, that are low enough you eat all you want and don't feel guilty for eating?

I've found dill pickles to be at the top of that list for me. They are crunchy, salty, and filling. Any other suggestions?

LoraF83

I don't feel guilty eating anything. I simply portion out the serving size that fits my macros and calorie goals.

That said, when I'm trying to lose weight I count everything I eat, so technically, nothing is free.

snazzyjazzy21

Everything has calories. 100 calories of lettuce is still 100 calories, so I count it.

kirkor

ya lots of vegetables: pickles, cucumbers, cabbage, broccoli, mushrooms, bell peppers, spinach, kale

morticia16

nope, i take into account everything. well, almost everything. i am too lazy to count spices.

NoAdditives

Everything has calories. 100 calories of lettuce is still 100 calories, so I count it.

This.

ETA: Except for spices. Because those are low enough they aren't worth stressing over. If I totaled up all my spices for the day it would be around 10 calories. Maybe 20 max. That's not worth worrying about.

Fitnin6280

Dill pickles are the only food I consider "free". Yes I know they have calories, but that is my way of not making myself crazy obsessive when it comes to food.

4_Lisa

Everything has calories. 100 calories of lettuce is still 100 calories, so I count it.

^^^ Yup. And I'd be worried about the salt content of pickles. If of course you have issues, not saying everyone does, but for me my family has history of edema do I am careful on sodium.

samammay

Water.

DrunkenFaeGirl

Basically anything on this list:
http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/50-tasty-foods-under-50-calories

Stinkerbelle84

Celery, pickles (if I am not watching my sodium), lemons that are in my iced tea, crystal lite packets, most raw veggies...

While I do agree that a calorie is a calorie, I am not going to avoid raw fruits and veggies just to stay under. I don't just want to be skinny...I want to be healthy

17ChargerGirl17

I count my carbs. So Pickles would be free food for me!!! LOL

louisegibbs85

Water.

Andrew_peter

Pretty much just spices, unless they are listed on the container (which the often aren't). I found I am too all or nothing, and even something like just estimating a tbsp of ketchup would lead to me often saying screw it on the whole day of calorie counting.

I do admit to the odd dill pickle as an after workout snack that often times doesn't get logged though too!!

da_bears10089

Food that my co-workers bring to work is a "free food" because i didn't have to pay for it.

Fitnin6280

Food that my co-workers bring to work is a "free food" because i didn't have to pay for it.

:laugh:

kshiraakshara

I usually don't bother logging spices unless it's a recipe. And that's mostly just so I remember what the recipe calls for.

daltem

Briargrey

I don't log spices (salt, thyme, garlic powder, that sort of thing), but I log everything else, including sauces and condiments (catsup, mustard, etc) because those can add up quick. Those 50 under 50 from a link upthread are great foods but they should still be logged, imo, because the portion size is sometimes small, so while it lists strawberries at 4, that's for 1 strawberry. I don't know about y'all, but the only time I eat just one strawberry is when that's all they give me (I'm looking at you AA first class breakfast with your 1 strawberry and lots of melons I don't like plate).

reedandmalloy

I don't log spices, or vegetables like tomatoes, broccoli, kale, romaine, or raw spinach. I try to stay enough under my calorie total and don't use my exercise points so I know I always have plenty of calories to spare.

MrsFowler1069

Everything has calories. 100 calories of lettuce is still 100 calories, so I count it.

Heck, if I ever ate a 100 calories worth of lettuce, I'd ADVERTISE it.

That said, I do log everything except spices with a very rare exception. In addition to helping me make more fitting (accurate) choices, it also keeps my head in the game.

A side benefit, too, is that I made a mistake in the way I counted something and my friends were able to bring it to my attention so I don't do it again. Actually, they wanted in because it sounded way better than it was lol, but the result was the same for me, with possibly some tears on their end...

Also, I am on the Guilt-Free Diet. Just sayin'.

Unknown

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bridgie101

Do you have any foods that you consider " free" - rather, that are low enough you eat all you want and don't feel guilty for eating?

I've found dill pickles to be at the top of that list for me. They are crunchy, salty, and filling. Any other suggestions?

Any low cal vege are free and I don't even log them. I watch things like peas and corn and sometimes carrots but really in the end: to say 'i won't eat this healthy lettuce leaf because it'll put me 5cals over my daily budget' is NOT in the spirit of MFP. That's just stupid.

so basically any vege are free, and if I go over I don't get screwed up about it, I don't even give a damn. Even if I go 300 cals over like I did the other day. Any day below maintenance is a good day.

airangel59

That said, when I'm trying to lose weight I count everything I eat, so technically, nothing is free.
And....
Everything has calories. 100 calories of lettuce is still 100 calories, so I count it.

THIS....

and pickles might be low in calories but they'll ding you on sodium, so it's not really "free"
The only thing I tend to not log are some spices unless they are high in sodium.

benol1

I don't count herbs, spices, tea and coffee.
Tea and coffee I drink black and unsweetened.

smu_77

Same here. I have one or two espresso in the morning (without sugar/milk) that I don't count. I also don't count spices and my daily 2-3 tbsp of apple cider vinegar.

Sapphire3002

Mine are also dill pickles but I also love green olives with pimento, low on calories.

shadow2soul

water is really the only thing I don't log....well that and spices (but I only use spices when I eat chicken breasts, pork chops, or steak)