Do you think it's necessary to log vegetable intake?

carissar7
carissar7 Posts: 183 Member
in Food and Nutrition
This may sound like a stupid question, but I'm wondering if whether or not it makes that big of a difference in daily calories to log how many veggies we eat. I can understand logging fruits because they are high in sugar and contain more calories, but I feel like it's a waste of time to log that I ate 'an orange pepper and some spinach' with my lunch when it only added about 50 calories to my diary. Again I'm only talking about the CALORIES (I know it's good to keep track of everything we put in our mouths so we can look back and see past meals etc). I'm really just thinking about logging any meat I eat daily, or how much coconut oil I use etc, as I find these make the biggest difference in calories if you're trying to eat a certain amount. Any thoughts?
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Replies

  • shezzzzz
    shezzzzz Posts: 119 Member
    I find it helpful

    When I decided to lose the weight this time, I tried my old WW program (points, free non starchy veg but counting fruit), and I wasn't losing at all.

    I started MFP, logged my veg and found I was eating about 200 cals a day worth that I wasn't logging with WW. 200 x a month (30 days) is 6000 calories!!! (almost 2 lbs)

    Now, I count EVERYTHING!!!
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  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    waste of time?

    it takes just a few seconds to log each food...at least for me.

    I log everything, even gum :laugh:
  • xiamjackie
    xiamjackie Posts: 611 Member
    It depends on how strict you want to be with your logging. I log it, even if it is just a few calories, because eventually it will add up. Say you eat 100 calories worth of veggies every day, which is entirely possible, but you don't log it. That ends up being 700 calories a week that you are missing.
  • earltracyrly
    earltracyrly Posts: 1 Member
    I log everything I eat no matter how few caloreis..
  • sandy_gee
    sandy_gee Posts: 372 Member
    waste of time?

    it takes just a few seconds to log each food...at least for me.

    I log everything, even gum :laugh:
  • airangel59
    airangel59 Posts: 1,887 Member
    I do.

    There ARE calories, carbs, sugars, sodium, fiber and proteins. They all add up.

    You have to do what you feel is best but I write what I bite.
  • dnish53
    dnish53 Posts: 162 Member
    To me it is worth it. Then I can go back and see everything that I have eaten. By logging vegatables it also helps me make sure I am getting enough servings everyday.
  • yksdoris
    yksdoris Posts: 327 Member
    potatoes are vegetables.

    'nuff said.

    Though, yes, most vegetables aren't that calorie-intense, I still log them but mostly for the macro's.
  • BlackEyedPanda
    BlackEyedPanda Posts: 86 Member
    I try to log everything. Even veggies add up - dark green ones aren't that bad but if you are like me and munch on sweet corn and carrots a lot they add up quickly. Also, logging them in makes your food diary look nicer and you wanna be proud of yourself when you look at it!

    This just reminded me that I snacked on a plum and forgot to log it!
  • krhn
    krhn Posts: 781 Member
    :blushing: Well vegetables is food so :blushing:

    If your trying to lose weight you should technically log everything that goes into your mouth, as well as calorie output from workouts... I guess it depends how much of the vege you eat, I mean a snack of vegetables here and there shouldn't affect the overall goal at all!
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    They help you hit your carb and fiber macro goals, in addition to micronutrient needs and daily caloric intake. Log them.

    There's also the method of preparation that comes into play; folks that cook them in oil or butter are underestimating calories by a decent amount if they don't log those veggies.
  • NYUbookworm
    NYUbookworm Posts: 42
    I log everything, too, because as others have already pointed out, it does add up. While our minds recognize vegetables as being low in calories, our bodies simply know the calories as being calories, and will handle them the same way, whether they come in the form of broccoli or french fries. I even log in my 10-calorie dose of multivitamins. LOL! :)
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Veggies add a lot of fiber .... I like to see a good fiber number at the end of the day.

    Unless you know which veggies are calorie dense & which ones are not ..... you can get into trouble. Peas (for example) add up really fast.
  • gadenni34
    gadenni34 Posts: 294 Member
    typically I log them. unless it is a starchy veggie I may not be as careful about measuring or weighing them though. when it will only be a few cal difference between a cup or a cup and a quarter I don't sweat it.
  • Moviegal77
    Moviegal77 Posts: 65 Member
    Look at it this way, yes it may only be 50 calories, but if you do that 2-3 times a day that equals to 100-150 calories. Then next thing you know we will see a message on here from you asking us why you're not losing weight and we will have no way of knowing why because you are not being truthful with your food log. Just saying.

    So to answer your question, yes I believe it's necessary to log vegetables.
  • KimberlyDCZ
    KimberlyDCZ Posts: 525 Member
    yes. I understand if it's a tsp of onion, or cup of spinach or cabbage but it does add up. Other vegetables like peas, carrots, mushrooms, things like that, I would absolutely log.
  • 55in13
    55in13 Posts: 1,091 Member
    I will offer a contrarian view - No, it isn't necessary to log anything as long as you are sure you are below your max but not unreasonably far below. I go through periods of logging everything, periods of logging most things and periods of no logging. Just don't let it be an excuse for giving yourself free reign.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    If your not going to log your veg you may as well not bother logging.
  • joleenl
    joleenl Posts: 739 Member
    I log everything.... But I very seldom weigh or measure fruits or veggies. The slight difference between the actual weight and the eyeballing of amounts is not worth the effort.
  • watchhillgirl
    watchhillgirl Posts: 597 Member
    I log everything. If I stop one thing, I might fall into a trap of not logging other things.
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    yes its necessary to log everything u eat drink.................... etc.......................
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    I log everything. If I stop one thing, I might fall into a trap of not logging other things.
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    those caleries that u aarent loggimng could be 200 or more-
    LOG THEM
  • MorgueBabe
    MorgueBabe Posts: 1,188 Member
    Yes they have calories.
    I can easily make a salad that costs 700 calories.
  • bacitracin
    bacitracin Posts: 921 Member
    Is it food? Log it.
  • rodneyderrick
    rodneyderrick Posts: 483 Member
    I think it's imperative to balance logging and living; therefore, I would say log it all.
  • stunningalmond
    stunningalmond Posts: 275 Member
    I log them. I like to see how close I'm getting to my recommended daily intake of vitamins.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I don't think it's a simple question. Some veggies. such as parsnips and sweet potatoes, have quite a few calories and IMO should always be logged. Others like a couple of pieces of lettuce on a sandwich or 2 jalapeno in a recipe are so low that they make no difference.

    Personally, I log all vegetables eaten as part of the meal, rather than for seasoning or garnish. Veggies used to season dishes I may or may not log, depending on the calorie count and how big of a hurry I'm in.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I eat anywhere from 200-300 calories per day in veggies...

    When I was trying to lose, it was pretty important that I log those considering that if I hit my calorie goal with logging them I would have cut my weight loss deficit in half just failing to log properly.

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