Does anyone not like counting fruit and veg?

RaurieLeigh

I used to do the Scottish Slimmers diet and you could have 2 portions of fruit and as much veg without counting. Also a small amount of milk or other dairy, but I can't remember how much.

I still like to follow this idea, as it means I can have fruit for breakfast and not have to count it, or if I have used all my calories for the day, I can still have some veggies or fruit later on.

Does anyone else do this?

shanmackie

i don't really understand your question, but you should be able to eat as much vegetable as you want (provided it's prepared properly) until you're not hungry and you'd be fine. calories are still calories but you shouldn't starve yourself if you're hungry.

FitBeto

I dont count tomatoes and lettuce on sandwiches

Contrarian

I count everything. It's how this site works.

AntWrig

I used to do the Scottish Slimmers diet and you could have 2 portions of fruit and as much veg without counting. Also a small amount of milk or other dairy, but I can't remember how much.

I still like to follow this idea, as it means I can have fruit for breakfast and not have to count it, or if I have used all my calories for the day, I can still have some veggies or fruit later on.

Does anyone else do this?

I don't count broccoli etc but I do count fruit.

TheRealParisLove

I like to count everything. It's like a game for me where I try to make my meal choices fit perfectly into my macros. I track fiber and sodium as well as calories, fat, carbs, and protein, and the veggies and fruit help me meet those goals.

Rachlmale

No... different 'diets' follow different concepts whereas this is calorie counting... so count calories, all calories. 2 pieces of fruit is near 200 cals...

SweeDecadence92

Nope. I count everything. Calories are still calories even if their healthy. If I didn't count them then thats an easy 1/3 - 1/2 of my daily intake unaccounted for.

What is the benefit to not counting your fruit/veg calories?

neverstray

A banana has 100 calories or more. Apples and oranges have around 80. Not counting them is called not logging them. So, when you are not losing weight and can't figure out why, I'd start there.

MissJanet55

Calories in fruit and some veg can really add up. If you're not going to count them you might want to at least have a clear idea of how many calories you're consuming so you're not hundreds of calories over at the end of the day. It's easier to do than you might think.

I don't log every single thing (like a previous poster said, a slice of tomato and lettuce on a sandwich), but if it's over 25 calories I pay attention and log it. I've been amazed at how many calories are in foods I have always thought didn't "count".

doughnutsanddumbbells

If I didn't count fruit and veg, I'd be eating an extra 2-400 calories a day. The point of mfp is to track everything so that you know what you're putting into your body. If you're tracking your food and you're 100 calories under your limit, but haven't included the 350 calories of fruit and veg you've eaten throughout the day, you'd actually end up 250 calories over. No, you won't gain weight from it because you're still under maintenance, but you'd lose weight incredibly slowly.

RaurieLeigh

I think I should do that too. I added broccoli into my pasta to bulk it out and make it a bigger meal. I don't feel like I should count it, or I might as well have added more pasta.

Lleldiranne

I do log all my fruits and vegetables (okay, not lately, but that's because I fell off the wagon and wasn't logging at all :blushing: )

First of all, fruits especially do have calories. It doesn't mean that they are bad, but I do want to make sure that I take those calories into account when I think I'm under my goal. I imagine finishing logging, being 15 calories under and thinking "great, I should be losing weight" … but not accounting for the banana and apple I'd had, plus the squash, carrots, and broccoli. Each one isn't that much, but all together it could add up to another 200 calories (in other words, almost my entire deficit!). It's better to track them and not eat the extra calories elsewhere.

Secondly, some days or weeks (or months :grumble: ) I struggle to get my 5 servings of fruits and veggies in. If I log it all, it's a type of accountability. I can go back and look and see how I've done and know what I need to work on. Also, I like to track my fiber (it's good for digestive health, heart & vascular health, and more to get enough fiber) and fruits and veggies are a big source of that.

On the other hand, I don't track sugar, so it doesn't freak me out to see I'm "over" because of the fruit I've eaten.

ETA: I just updated my ticker to show weight loss this year. I've really lost almost 20 lbs.

jnp96

Count everything. All calories count.

RaurieLeigh

It makes me want to eat them more. Adding in veg to meals I wouldn't normally add them to. And snacking on veg instead of other things cause I don't have to count them.

sbro32

I'm pretty sure you're supposed to, but I typically don't count them either. I may count a banana, because they can be pretty big and are so sugary. And I'll count super starchy stuff like lima beans, but I don't count spinach or broccoli or well... a lot of other vegetables or fruits. I don't want to prevent myself from eating some apple slices because it's taking up my calories, you know? And I have still lost weight. I say keep doing the thing that's working for you! Best of luck to you!

jchorgan

I typically don't count veggies, but I do fruit, HOWEVER, if I am still hungry and need a snack, I figure it's better to "over-indulge" (using that term loosely) on fruit than on cookies!!

RaurieLeigh

I only really count the calories, just cause from previous diets that's been the only focus. But I'm not an idiot. I'm not going to trade an entire meal for a chocolate bar and say it's fine cause I'm only counting calories.

So I'll log my fruit, definitely, but I'll just be more wary on my veg. If I had to count every piece of veg I ate then I would stop eating it. I'd rather lose weight slower and continue to eat my veg uncounted, than count everything precisely and lose it fast.

simplydelish2

Nope...if it goes in your mouth it counts! Don't fool yourself!

Firefox7275

I used to do the Scottish Slimmers diet and you could have 2 portions of fruit and as much veg without counting. Also a small amount of milk or other dairy, but I can't remember how much.

I still like to follow this idea, as it means I can have fruit for breakfast and not have to count it, or if I have used all my calories for the day, I can still have some veggies or fruit later on.

Does anyone else do this?

Is Scottish Slimmers a points based system? If so that is why, it is only loosely based on calories. MFP is calorie and macronutrient based, produce has macronutrients and calories, end of story. Those systems may also give extra points to certain horrifically unhealthy foods, over and above what you would expect from pure calories, are you doing this or are you picking and choosing the parts of the system you keep?

I rather like that I can eat a ton of calories and nutrients with non starchy vegetables and barely touch my macros. If I invented a points based system I probably wouldn't count a certain amount of oily fish or fat free plain yoghurt either.

Bilbobradshaw

I think everyone has a couple of things they don't count. I usually don't count cucumber as a snack, nor am I picky about counting my first (and usually only) coffee of the day. However, I pay attention to more than just my calorie intake (specifically my calcium and iron), and adding them in really gives me a more whole view of what I'm eating throughout the day.

DavidHills123

I prefer to eat natural health supplements instead.

chervil6

No... different 'diets' follow different concepts whereas this is calorie counting... so count calories, all calories. 2 pieces of fruit is near 200 cals...

it depends on the fruit

RaurieLeigh

Yeah every 25 calories was a point. If it was 30 calories, I'd say 1 point. If it were 40 calories, I'd say it was 2 points. Also in that, it gave me 1000 calories to play with, plus 2 free fruit and all the free veg I wanted. This site gives me 1,200 calories to play with.

I lost a lot of weight with the other diet.

lovechicagobears

I think I should do that too. I added broccoli into my pasta to bulk it out and make it a bigger meal. I don't feel like I should count it, or I might as well have added more pasta.

That math doesn't work. 100 calories of broccoli is a huge amount of food compared to 100 calories of pasta.

That's why it's better to go with the veggies. You'll get full and stay full for fewer calories.

You could have a small brownie OR three apples. That's why it's best to count the veggies and fruit. You'll see that you can eat so much more food for so few calories.

RaurieLeigh

Thanks! I think you've been the most helpful!! I'm the same, I think it's common sense. The diet I followed last time made me count bananas and sweetcorn for whatever reason, but not apples or carrots. I think I'm going to keep doing it. I've eaten pretty much all my calories for the day and I'd fall off the wagon if I didn't know I could snack on veggies later tonight.

ladyshills

I count everything since a calorie is a calorie no matter what... I hate counting the cream in my coffee though! I've also done weight watchers & they don't count fruit. However, many of my WW friends end up eating so much fruit because it's "free" that their weight loss slows down. You are only cheating yourself by not counting every lick, bite or taste.

Bob314159

You can use a shortcut on vegetables, for most vegetables, [but not dense starchy ones, like potatoes] just put in 100 calories for the day. You could try "Salad - Mixed Vegetables" - 6 servings OR
"*Fresh - Mixed Vegetables" - 2.5 servings


For fruit,you do really need to count each serving exactly.

TavistockToad

if I have used all my calories for the day, I can still have some veggies or fruit later on.

If you eat over you calorie allowance you may not lose weight... If you eat over your maintenance you will put weight on, even if is fruit and veg you are eating.

lamby284

I go by the number of cups of each that I need which is 2 cups fruit and 2½ cups of veggies per day. It's pretty easy to keep up with cuz I mainly use bags of frozen produce.

Deipneus

I count fruit and vegetables. If I didn't, I'd under count my calories by 25%.