Question about calories

determined2lose89

I have to ask this question and while it may seem silly, I need some answers.

I need to start incorporating more fruits and veggies into my diet because I'm lacking crucial vitamins and minerals. To eat more variety, I've started making fruit salads for the bf and I. For each fruit salad I'm using: half an apple, half a pear, half an orange, 5 grapes and a few berries if I have any. This fruit salad usually amounts to 120-ish calories on its own and I usually pair it with yogurt for calcium.

So, then I'll make a stir fry for dinner crammed with veggies, or a salad crammed with veggies, or have raw veggies for dinner.

My whole question here is that all these extra fruits & veggies = more calories.

So, if I go over my calories but it's because of fruits and veggies, is it that bad? Does it really count? I know fruits/veggies are now considered zero points in weight watchers.

Thanks everyone!

CMmrsfloyd

Fruits and veggies *do* count for the calories - it is completely possible to eat extremely healthy food and gain weight b/c you're eating too much. This is kind of the reason that a lot of people find weight watchers doesn't work well for them - b/c 0 points does not mean 0 calories.

Try planning out your day in advance so you can see how everything will add up before you actually eat it - that makes it easier to make adjustments here and there. Or if you don't want to cut out any food, try and find time to exercise a bit more to account for the added calories. :-)

dls06

Calories in, Calories out. Everything counts. Maybe cut your serving of fruit in 1/2or instead of putting them together add 1 piece and see what it does to your daily goals. I add foods before I eat so I can see if it's ok or if I need to make another choice. Grapes will be a better choice than banana, but berries are better than grapes if you are low in calories. I don't think veggies would be whats putting you over.

katatak1

There's not an easy answer to that. Yes, it does matter, but it's better for you to go over with fruits and veggies than something else. You should aim to increase it even more (gradually) and remove some of the bad stuff you're eating.

Another solution: do a quick workout to burn whatever calories you add! That way you still get the nutrients, but you don't go over your calorie goal.

sc1234

The calories do matter and be careful because many fruits are loaded with sugar. I would add tons of veggies and just a few fruits. Great low sugar/ low cal veggies I use are asparagus, green beans, broccoli and spinach. Add too many fruits and you'll be way over your sugar for the day. I blend spinach into my fruit/protein shake in the blender (try it, you'll barely taste it when there's fruit in there), I put chicken breast or some other protein on spinach leaves for a salad and I cook spinach as a side dish. I buy the big monster spinach bag from Costco.

psuLemon

Unless you have your goal set to lose .5 lb per week, it probably won't affect you too much but it does count. Like others said, calories in and calories out. What you can do though, is exercise for 30 minutes and then you can eat more.