Free Calories

aixela35

Are there foods that are free calories?? What foods are free and how much of that food is free? For example are mushrooms from a can free calories?? Are cucumbers free calories?? Radishes free calories?? Help any body just would like to know if there are such things as free calories in food? Thanks so much!

blakgarnet

I don't count calories in garlic or onions since they're low in calories and I only add a small amount to anything anyway. I am also not too strict on most veggies - I generally just estimate since they are low in calories and healthy calories. I do try to count them thought.

Donecruising

My nutritionist says that the fruits and veggies are "free calories" but MFP has me hooked I count everything. Good luck aixela35 with everything you're trying to accomplish.

ks2001

Give yourself lettuce for free--you couldn't eat enough to amount to a lot anyway and it's mostly water and fiber.

mocorbin

Hi aixela
I was on weight watchers and these were zero point veggies but I'm sure they all have some calories if you're tracking.
asparagus
beets
broccoli
brussel sprouts
cabbage
cauliflower
celery
cucumber
eggplant
endive
escarole
green or wax beens
greens
hearts of palm
jicama
lettuce
mixed green salad (dressing has points)
fresh mushrooms (not canned)
okra
peppers
pickles (unsweetened)
pimentos
fresh pumpkin (not canned)
radishes
sauerkraut
scallions
spinach
sprouts
spaghetti, summer and zuccchini squash
tomatoes
turnips
watercress

spritie

water is free

other than that everything has some calories

MiniRose2B

I was on WW's for awhile and I'm used to not counting calories in some veggies like greens and carrots, but still count starchy ones like corn and potatoes.

Breathe_Glamour

I imagine my reply to this post won't help much, but it is closely tied to the initial question: Why would you want free calories anyway?

somigliana

I know some eating plans/diets have the concept of "free veggies", but they all do still have calories in them, even if the calorie counts are lower than for other foodtypes. Far as I know, only water is truly zero calories. Given MFP is a tool to track all the calories you eat, I take the stance of logging everything (well, except things like garlic and basil leaves, but that's because I'm lazy!).

MiniRose2B

I imagine my reply to this post won't help much, but it is closely tied to the initial question: Why would you want free calories anyway?

I call free calories a "filler" for example; I just munched on a micowaveable bag of whole green beans, I put in some lite salt, garlic toast powder, and a bit of spray butter, It tastes good, few calories, and I feel satisfied.

Elokyn

I have read before that when you eat celery you burn more calories eating it than it has in it, but I've never looked it up so I dont know if that's true

update:

http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/celery.asp

Everywhere I've looked has said the same thing. Add a little spice, and viola!

aixela35

Thanks everyone! Appreciate all the information given.

lawkat

The only thing that has free calories is water. Veggies may be low in calories, but if you eat too much of them, they can add up like anything else. The whole eating celery creates negative calories is a myth. You would have to chew a whole lot to get to that point. Just eat things in moderation and you should be fine.

chgudnitz

water is free

other than that everything has some calories

Yep.