Calories vs Nutrition

SugaryLynx

I elect we start a community like The Village to avoid the ebils of this world. Clean minds only

ChrisM8971

Just a random poll: How many of you care about WHAT you eat instead of just counting calories?

Yes you can eat a 150 calorie cupcake and burn it off with exercise. But what about the trans fat that clogs your arteries; the sugar the makes your pancreas work harder to create insulin; the hydrogenated oils that get into your blood stream and effects your cells composition?

Does anyone read food labels to avoid processed foods? Does anyone buy organic fruit so that you aren't ingesting pesticides? Does anyone care about their insides or is it all about calories in and calories out?

I count calories, I track my macros and I try to eat a nutritious diet but why on earth would I avoid processed foods?

takeitsleazybraj

I elect we start a community like The Village to avoid the ebils of this world. Clean minds only

Brilliant!

stealthq

Processing is not a good thing or a bad thing in general, so I don't avoid it.

Ditto preservatives, food coloring, etc.

And sugar, though you can obviously over-do it.

Organic is a meaningless term in regards to the relative healthfulness of the product. Organic farmers use pesticides, too, and many of those don't cause us a problem in the small doses we'd be getting. Especially if you wash your produce. Now, if I know a specific company is using a pesticide that has nasty effects on humans in trace amounts, obviously I'll avoid their products.

Specific compounds and elements concern me, when I know it's likely I'm eating enough of it to potentially cause a health issue. Mercury, for example. I love tuna salad and tuna sushi and would eat it frequently enough to maybe have an issue if I didn't know to be careful. So, I limit tuna to twice a week max and choose fish less likely to have higher levels of mercury like sardines as a substitute when I can. Things like that.

RunnerStephe

I had no idea there were holy rollers in nutrition.

It would just blow your mind to know you could be healthy and enjoy enjoy a cupcake, wouldn't it?

LOL!! I go for eating clean, but not all the time. I like greasy food, but don't eat it much. Who says cupcakes can't be made healthy.

SugaryLynx

I had no idea there were holy rollers in nutrition.

It would just blow your mind to know you could be healthy and enjoy a cupcake, wouldn't it?

LOL!! I go for eating clean, but not all the time. I like greasy food, but don't eat it much. Who says cupcakes can't be made healthy.

I can agree that for health, aiming for nutrient dense foods is key. I'm not always the best at it but I do try. I guess I just don't like the word clean because it's so vague and is defined by the user in so many ways, it's truly an enigma. I think you'd find most people aim to eat nutrient dense foods as the main goal of their diet, then squeeze in fun stuff on the sides. That's how I aim to meet my goals, anyway. I just prefer not to use terms like clean and dirty because I just can't see them that way. I mean, no one is suggesting someone comprise their whole diets in twinkies but having one or two twinkies along with meeting your nutritional needs isn't going to negate the benefits of it in terms of health.

Michelle_Padgett13

It's not either/or, it's both/and. Yes, nutritious food is important, and I would guess that close to 100% of people on MFP care in some way about what they fuel their bodies with. But whether you're trying to lose, gain, or maintain, it is also about calories in, calories out.

So most of just do our best at both.

:flowerforyou:

ebrggqe

Of course I care about what I eat and nutrition. I don't think that's the key to losing weight, however. For that I count calories.

^This and exercise...

aledba

Just wanted to get a sample. I take it you read food labels and avoid processed foods? thanks :ohwell:

Almost all of the food I consume comes without labels. 90% w/o labels and the other 10% are things like yogurt, almond milk, storebought hummus, ice cream and olives.

paulawatkins1974

Does anyone read food labels to avoid processed foods?

If it has a food label, it's "processed food" by definition.

If you're really concerned about these things, you shouldn't be eating anything that requires a food label.

I was thinking this. It was kind of an oxymoron

3dogsrunning

Thanks for your insights :flowerforyou:

Yes, it would blow my mind to know what is on organic fruit. I thought regular apples were ok, then I read about all the pesticides on them, now you're saying organic has it, too?! Is there no clean food?

I guess it depends on what your goals are, too. Mine has changed from "losing weight" (calories) to "eating healthy" (nutrition).

No, there are no "clean" food. There is no one definition of "clean" food.

Ask someone following Paleo and they will tell you that whole grains and dairy are not "clean". And you should eat free range meat.
Ask someone following Eat to Live and they will tell that meat is not "clean", even free range but whole grains are.
Ask someone following The Clean Eating Diet a la Tosca Reno and lean meats and whole grains are "clean".

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1309716-calories-vs-nutrition


To answer your OP - yes, i count calories and track my nutrition intake. I try to get most of my daily intake from whole and nutrient dense foods and I am not afraid of processed foods. ("processed" is another one of those words that doesn't really have a clear meaning within this discussion). I read labels. I am not afraid of sugar.
It doesn't have to be one or the other.

I was a "clean eater" (Tosca Reno style). I've come to see the other side.

ThinkInOregon

It would just blow your mind to know you could be healthy and enjoy enjoy a cupcake, wouldn't it?

I had a homemade banana cupcake the other day (maybe 10 days or 2 weeks ago.) Novel thought, huh!

So I had a treat, and some fruit at the same time. Sue me, op! My physician today was thrilled with my weight loss and my fasting blood sugar and cholesterol were PERFECT!! Not that they were bad before, but I wanted to be proactive about the weight I put on after a work-related back injury.

RllyGudTweetr

Thanks for your insights :flowerforyou:

Yes, it would blow my mind to know what is on organic fruit. I thought regular apples were ok, then I read about all the pesticides on them, now you're saying organic has it, too?! Is there no clean food?

I guess it depends on what your goals are, too. Mine has changed from "losing weight" (calories) to "eating healthy" (nutrition).

Please define "clean" food. I must assume you're referencing something other than washing the fruits and vegetables before eating them.

chrisdavey

Once your have reached your micronutrient targets, you don't get bonus points for having more.






I personally love all these "clean" recipes I see posted with "all organic" coconut oil and medjool dates etc. etc. and have more calories than an equivalent "dirty" one :laugh: But it's ok because it's from "clean" food sources right and you they aren't fattening. :huh:

MariaStephens0508

:happy: I think this is a great point. Calorie counting is essential to weight loss however good nutrition is essential to overall health. I try to get GOOD calories (fruits and veggies, raw and cooked) as well a watching sodium intake. The "Healthy" microwave dinners, although good for calorie and protein levels......are pretty bad (over 500 mg/meal) for sodium. Fresh is always best and whole food meals are preferable if you are looking to cut calories and eat a nutritious meal.

sugarlemonpie

Calories and nutrition go hand in hand.

A cupcake would be satisfying for all of the 5 seconds it takes to eat it, but will it keep you full? Not likely. Those sorts of foods should be eaten sparingly. Maybe once a week. Sure, calories in and calories out makes a lot of sense for weight loss, but for overall health it's more complicated than that.

I always try to eat healthy, quality foods and limit my intake of junk. I would think a lot of people here try to do the same, as you get more vitamins and minerals that way to help you with your workout and weight management goals.

Devlyn_P

I care about what I eat/cook. Fast food makes me ill and packaged foods as well, might be the artificial preservatives? I dunno.

I noticed if I cook from scratch I end up feeling satiated and the food itself is lower in calories when compared to purchasing food that is loaded with sodium and who knows what.

I will take 2 softboiled eggs w/ sriracha sauce on a english muffin over Egg McMuffin breakfast.

iPlatano

You wont get a heart attack of something from eating something that has chemicals in it.

If it was that harmful, it would be banned or something.

It all comes down to moderation.

Btw its very difficult to hit your macros from packaged products unless you dont care going over your fats/carbs/protein.

RWTBR

This is why I love being a gym rat and marathoner. I can eat anything I want and no trans fats are going to clog up anything, I burn every single bit of it off before it can do any damage. And sugar won't ever make me diabetic, I need those 11 packets of sugar in my coffee to fuel my workout. 21-mile runs and such lead to super clean insides. Just keep it under the calorie goal and I'm good to go!

zillah73

I care about both. I eat at a calorie deficit, log all my foods and meal plan to lose weight. I a nutritious, healthful diet for my physical well-being and to live a long, healthy life.

Siigh_duck

Well my reasons behind eating mostly healthy are actually because it makes being at a deficit easier for me. Protein fills me up so I try eat lots of it xD consequently I eat tuna and chicken and quorn and whatever else, people would see that as healthy, I just see it as filling. same goes for vegetables, who wouldn't want to fill up their plate with broccoli for a measley 50 calories XD
I wouldn't say I categorise things as healthy or unhealthy though, I'm more of a macro girl and I love cheese, some people say cheese is unhealthy but some say it is, who knows. the world is weird.

SnuggleSmacks

Fast food, pizza, canned or frozen foods, it's all good as long as it fits in my calorie budget.


Even cupcakes. Especially cupcakes.

shawruff

I do a combo of both. During the week, I really try to think about nutrition and what will fuel my body and mind. During the weekend, when i am on the go and eating more meals out or having drinks, i think more about calories. BUT, saying that, i suffer from severe iron deficient anemia so I also ensure that i get my Iron and take a liquid multi.

Glens_Life

Some buttermilk biscuts and rabbit gravy every once in a great while never hurt anyone as long as its counted.

SKME2013

I watch all: food labels, calories, macros and micros plus my exercises.
Stef.