calories or fat?

amymeenieminymo

So in the past I have always looked at fat grams when deciding how bad a food is. But everything I read seems to focus on calories. Carbs is also a big thing, but that just confuses me beyond belief so I am trying to start small and understand fat vs. calories. So I've already entered my lunch in my diary today since I know what I am eating. I thought the food was very healthy, but it's a total of 536 calories! Doesn't that seem like a lot for just a cup of corn chowder soup (it's 160 calories and 3 grams a fat, not NEARLY as bad as some corn chowders I have seen), and a salad packed full of veggies and that 10 calorie italian vinigrette spritzer. I always thought you could never go wrong with veggies, so why does my lunch take up such a big portion of my alloted calories for the day.

Oh ok, I forgot that I also have chicpeas in my salad and that accounts for almost half of my lunch total, but again, I was always told any kind of beans are awesome for you. Is there such a thing as good calories? Also, despite my lunch being so many calories, the fat total is only 8 grams. Going by that it sounds pretty good, but the calories amazed me.

amymeenieminymo

So in the past I have always looked at fat grams when deciding how bad a food is. But everything I read seems to focus on calories. Carbs is also a big thing, but that just confuses me beyond belief so I am trying to start small and understand fat vs. calories. So I've already entered my lunch in my diary today since I know what I am eating. I thought the food was very healthy, but it's a total of 536 calories! Doesn't that seem like a lot for just a cup of corn chowder soup (it's 160 calories and 3 grams a fat, not NEARLY as bad as some corn chowders I have seen), and a salad packed full of veggies and that 10 calorie italian vinigrette spritzer. I always thought you could never go wrong with veggies, so why does my lunch take up such a big portion of my alloted calories for the day.

Oh ok, I forgot that I also have chicpeas in my salad and that accounts for almost half of my lunch total, but again, I was always told any kind of beans are awesome for you. Is there such a thing as good calories? Also, despite my lunch being so many calories, the fat total is only 8 grams. Going by that it sounds pretty good, but the calories amazed me.

REB89

i think you have to balance calories and fat. Your body needs fat to function so you shouldn't cut it out MFP works out what goals you should be hitting for both calories and fat so try and stick to these. Beans are good for you HOWEVER they are calorie dense foods which is why your lunch total was so high. Saying that though its better to get your caloires from something healthy and nutritious like chickpeas rather than a piece of chocolate cake or french fries!

superduperbandnerd

I work in a place that has corn chowder ... and form my experiance it's just best to stay away. Corn is not a very substantail food and most of the time it has some heavy cream.... not a good combo... just be careful:flowerforyou: