Counting Calories for Veggies

kgor1957
kgor1957 Posts: 13
in Food and Nutrition
I am wondering why we have to count calories for most of the vegs that we eat?? I didn't get this way by eating my veggies. I love vegs, but am a bit hesitant to have them. I can certainly understand counting the calories for those vegs. that are starchy, potatoes, corn, peas, etc., but the others? Forgive me if this sounds dumb, but Just wondering. I have been reading about
Taste of Homes Comfort Food diet. They suggest 1400 calories for women, and 1500 for me, and you don't have to count calories for certain vegs..... go figure.. Kat

Replies

  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    Among other reasons (vegetables do have calories), many of us on MFP are tracking nutrients. I look at my vitamin intake every day, as well as potassium, calcium, iron, fiber. Most of the best nutrients are in vegetables. If I wasn't tracking those, I would have no idea if I were getting the proper nutrition. I look at those numbers and make a conscious effort to eat foods that will make up the deficit in nutrients if I get towards the end of the day and haven't had enough of one thing or another.

    In other words, it's not just about the calories. It's about my health.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I am wondering why we have to count calories for most of the vegs that we eat?? I didn't get this way by eating my veggies.

    Assuming you are overweight, you got that way from eating too many calories. Vegetables (even green ones) have calories and these calories contribute to your overall intake. Since a calorie surplus causes weight gain, it would be in your best interest to track these calories regardless of their source.
  • Skinny_Beans
    Skinny_Beans Posts: 405 Member
    Because vegetables have calories, so you should count them. Sure, many are very low calorie and high nutrient, but you can still overdo it on a "healthy" food. For instance, I know someone who ate three apples a day at night and was fat, all that sugar!
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    If I didn't count veggie calories if be missing about 300 calories a day in my entries. Actually, for the last six days, almost half of my calories have been from veggies due to green smoothies and big veggie portions at dinner. So I see logging veggies as vital.

    Basically, if you eat it or drink it, log it.
  • escapes1
    escapes1 Posts: 1 Member
    Hi Sherry - I agree that knowing what specific nutrients one is consuming is important, especially if I want to look at making my diet plant based. I don't see a way with MFP to track more than a total of five nutrients(which would include carbs, fats & proteins). Do you know a way around this ...or do you use other software for this? Thanks.

    R
  • Cranktastic
    Cranktastic Posts: 1,517 Member
    I am wondering why we have to count calories for most of the vegs that we eat?? I didn't get this way by eating my veggies.

    Assuming you are overweight, you got that way from eating too many calories. Vegetables (even green ones) have calories and these calories contribute to your overall intake. Since a calorie surplus causes weight gain, it would be in your best interest to track these calories regardless of their source.

    He's smart.
  • Bonny619
    Bonny619 Posts: 311 Member
    I don't always log every single GREEN veggie I eat. But that's usually if it's a component of a salad. I'll usually pick out the things that have substantial calories and log those...but I don't do this too often. Just if I'm feeling lazy and I don't want to log .3 of a cucumber.
  • tubaman58
    tubaman58 Posts: 151
    One of the big things this website does is teach you the "price" for what you are eating...

    Logging them will emphasize in your mind and habbits just how low calorie these items are.

    It is positive reinforcement of a sort....
  • flubalub
    flubalub Posts: 1
    I am not always exact but I try to count the veggies. It's amazing how much you can eat for very few calories. It encourages me to eat more and as a result I feel fuller and don't eat as much rubbish.
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    :indifferent: If you want to be on a diet like that it Weight Watchers or whatever ...fine, go for it! Those work great for a lot of people. However...this is MFP. MFP is set up differently. It asks you to log everything. It sets you up with a deficit. It provides a social support network. And it WORKS. Why reinvent the wheel when the tool in your hand is working? :flowerforyou:
  • jetscreaminagain
    jetscreaminagain Posts: 1,130 Member
    Point of fact is you don't HAVE to do anything. You do you. I'll do me. MFPeeps will do them. No worries. If that doesn't work for you, you can start your own website in which no one gets to count beg calories.
  • Bonny619
    Bonny619 Posts: 311 Member
    Exactly. Do what works for you. As people can clearly see...me not counting EVERY single GREEN veggie, hasn't hurt me in the least. If it were potatoes and butternut squash, that would be another story.
    Point of fact is you don't HAVE to do anything. You do you. I'll do me. MFPeeps will do them. No worries. If that doesn't work for you, you can start your own website in which no one gets to count beg calories.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    I am wondering why we have to count calories for most of the vegs that we eat?? I didn't get this way by eating my veggies.

    Assuming you are overweight, you got that way from eating too many calories. Vegetables (even green ones) have calories and these calories contribute to your overall intake. Since a calorie surplus causes weight gain, it would be in your best interest to track these calories regardless of their source.

    ^ This, exactly.
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    Hi Sherry - I agree that knowing what specific nutrients one is consuming is important, especially if I want to look at making my diet plant based. I don't see a way with MFP to track more than a total of five nutrients(which would include carbs, fats & proteins). Do you know a way around this ...or do you use other software for this? Thanks.

    R


    In MFP I can track fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, iron, calcium. I'd like to track others, but this is all I see under the settings. I think you can select which ones you want to see when you use the website to customize your nutrients.
  • FeebRyan
    FeebRyan Posts: 738 Member
    I cheat by adding something as similar as possible to my meal

    so last night i added someone elses veggie mince spag bol rather than doing it all myself and breaking it down...

    Tonight i will add 'plate of veggie curry' rather than painstackingly breaking down the 6 curry dishes i have made and then suggesting the tablespoon or so of curry i have actually eaten from each of them!

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