foods that are not "worth" the calories?

MarlaVSings
MarlaVSings Posts: 66 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Last week I got a jar of caesar dressing from Whole Foods. Not the 365 brand, this is the stuff by the salad bar, comes in a plastic jar and has NO nutrition information listed. I figured what the hey, you can look up the nutritional info online, so I grabbed it.

I have not been able to find a direct link to the nutritional info, but on MFP there is a WF Caesar dressing that is listed as 300cals/oz! I understand that for the most part, caesar dressing is not a low cal item, but I was expecting something towards the 200 mark. The stuff is delicious, but I can have an entire meal for that little bit of salad dressing.

Disclaimer: I still haven't been able to find a direct link to the Whole Foods Market Caesar Dressing, but I'm sticking with the 300cal figure I found on here.

Anyway, this had me thinking - Is there any food items you think isn't worth the calorie/fat count? Any food items you think are surprisingly high calorie/high fat?
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Replies

  • cranium853
    cranium853 Posts: 138 Member
    Plain yogurt with fruit. I greatly prefer the Fage no-fat with real fruit- takes seconds to make and tastes so much better than that syrupy stuff.
  • Meushichan
    Meushichan Posts: 82 Member
    I know people are going to yell and throw things but... peanut butter. I love love LOVE it, used to eat a 16 oz jar a week by myself. But 200 cals for 2 TB, and I use double that for a sandwich, so a regular PB&J is 700 or so calories. I was like, my god, no wonder I'm fat. I had one every day for like 2 years in college. XD
  • WandaVonDunajew
    WandaVonDunajew Posts: 183 Member
    Any fast food burger. I like a good burger, but not McD/BurgerKing etc. It just tastes like soft mush and Id rather make my own.
  • WandaVonDunajew
    WandaVonDunajew Posts: 183 Member
    I know people are going to yell and throw things but... peanut butter. I love love LOVE it, used to eat a 16 oz jar a week by myself. But 200 cals for 2 TB, and I use double that for a sandwich, so a regular PB&J is 700 or so calories. I was like, my god, no wonder I'm fat. I had one every day for like 2 years in college. XD

    I ADORE nut butters, but man do I get your point :(
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    I know people are going to yell and throw things but... peanut butter. I love love LOVE it, used to eat a 16 oz jar a week by myself. But 200 cals for 2 TB, and I use double that for a sandwich, so a regular PB&J is 700 or so calories. I was like, my god, no wonder I'm fat. I had one every day for like 2 years in college. XD

    Try PB2 it is awesome and low calorie.

    Ok OP, BBQ Ribs and Chicken Wings. OMG how can something with so little meat have so many calories? I love them but go with other cuts to get the same flavors.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Brocolli. It's like a mini tree.
    I don't want to eat trees.
    Disgusting stuf!

    Oh and in the uk the supermarkets do low cal Caeser dressing which comes in at 60 calories/100g or so - nice enough and often don't bother logging it at that low - maybe 45 calories on my salad.
  • Velum_cado
    Velum_cado Posts: 1,608 Member
    Mayo. I do really like it, and used to eat it on absolutely everything. But for the amount I want to eat, I just can't justify the calories. It's one thing where "just have less!" doesn't work for me. I know if I'm going to eat mayo, I'll be eating a LOT of it, so it works better for me to just avoid it all together.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    On that too - the extra light mayo is quite different, but I still find it tolerable and it comes in at 70 calories / 100g for the Hellmans one.
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    Brocolli. It's like a mini tree.
    I don't want to eat trees.
    Disgusting stuf!

    I'm crying into my head of broccoli I eat each day. Delicious mini trees....
  • TheLadyBane
    TheLadyBane Posts: 299 Member
    Carbie sweets. I have a sweet tooth but things like donuts, cake, pastries, etc are just not worth it to me. I've found I enjoy a good quality dark chocolate so much more and a smaller portion satisfies me instead of fueling my appetite the way carbie sweets do.
  • hiba_84
    hiba_84 Posts: 177 Member
    I totally agree!
    I was actually about to post asking this. Why do people on MFP include PB in so much of their food when 2 TBS = 200 Cals! I mean that's like a tasting size not a serving size! If I wanted to top that up with some honey, BAM my one slice of PB + Toast+ Honey is like what 400 cal? That's a whole meal worth of calories and it's not even filling!
    I know people are going to yell and throw things but... peanut butter. I love love LOVE it, used to eat a 16 oz jar a week by myself. But 200 cals for 2 TB, and I use double that for a sandwich, so a regular PB&J is 700 or so calories. I was like, my god, no wonder I'm fat. I had one every day for like 2 years in college. XD
  • yasoyyo
    yasoyyo Posts: 15
    Pasta. It doesn't really have much of a taste (at least not compared to the other yummy stuff I could eat for those calories), so while I don't dislike it I always avoid it.

    The same goes for most all fast foods, really - if I'm going to have something high-cal I prefer for it to be something sweet and decadent, like a pastry or something.
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    Donuts, Danish pastries, milk chocolate.

    Main one for me - take out pizza
  • nikkihk
    nikkihk Posts: 487 Member
    Everything that tastes good is worth the calories... =D

    But things that are not? Anchovies, Onions, Creamed Corn (yuk), Spam, 50% of health foods and low/no fat options, real food alternatives... etc.
  • orangesmartie
    orangesmartie Posts: 1,870 Member
    Starbucks. I love their hot chocolates, but even with skimmed milk and no whipped cream, they still come in at over 300 cals :( I am trying to curtail my addiction.
  • lizzyclatworthy
    lizzyclatworthy Posts: 296 Member
    Yeah take out pizza and me are done

    I actually prefer an Italian style thin thing not drowning in cheese.

    I am not saying I will never eat domino's again but it would have to be a hell of a social occasion or date to get me to eat that.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    low fat cheese
    non fat cheese
    tofurkey
    veggie patties
    tofu
    eggplant
    brussel sprouts
    escargot
    pepperoni less or cheeseless pizza

    pretty much anything that doesn't actually taste good is IMO not worth the calories.
  • bfitgirl
    bfitgirl Posts: 138 Member
    Cheesemongers are like calorie crack houses, you can't just buy an oz, you have to pretend to yourself you are going to share it all with your friends, NOT

    30g (1oz) = 100 calories :sad:
  • lauren3101
    lauren3101 Posts: 1,853 Member
    I don't eat lasagne any more. It's too high in calories for me to even contemplate fitting it in as I've tried the 'just have a small slice and plenty of salad' approach - that doesn't work for me and lasagne. And any attempt to make it lower calorie makes it nasty.
  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    Crisps, generally. I love crisps, and every now and then I want some, but when I look at the nutrition table it's like... nah, not worth it. I'll still go for it sometimes but it's less and less frequent.

    Mayo. Same calories as butter, more or less. I do love things with mayo but the weight of calories is really offputting. It's like what it adds to the sandwich taste wise just isn't enough to justify what it does to my numbers. I'm not saying never never, but I have to really REALLY want it, and I usually don't.

    But for me, cheese, peanut butter, butter - totally worth it.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    Starbucks. I love their hot chocolates, but even with skimmed milk and no whipped cream, they still come in at over 300 cals :( I am trying to curtail my addiction.

    Try a Talle Light Mocha...only 150 calories and tastes like hot chocolate (at least to me it does lol)
    I don't eat lasagne any more. It's too high in calories for me to even contemplate fitting it in as I've tried the 'just have a small slice and plenty of salad' approach - that doesn't work for me and lasagne. And any attempt to make it lower calorie makes it nasty.

    Try Martha Stewart's Healthier Lasagna, it is on her website or you can find it in her cookbook, Everyday Food Light

    As for me.....I honestly can't think of anything. I usually find a way to work everything I want or crave into my diet.
  • hmaddpear
    hmaddpear Posts: 610 Member
    Low fat flavoured yogurts (Muller Light, blech) - they use so much artificial sweetner in it, you can *taste* the aspartame. This is never good. Yeah, that carton might only be 120kcals, but that's about a (small) glass of wine!

    I get on with Danio with fruit, but I see people's points about it being not worth it - much better to have real fruit (you can get in 1 of your five/seven a day that way!) and a good Greek yogurt.

    In the main, also pasta, rice and potatoes (sans skin). Love them all, but save them up for days when I'm doing a crazy calorie burn.
  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    I don't eat lasagne any more. It's too high in calories for me to even contemplate fitting it in as I've tried the 'just have a small slice and plenty of salad' approach - that doesn't work for me and lasagne. And any attempt to make it lower calorie makes it nasty.

    I just miss out the intermediate bechamel layers, have layers of bolognese and pasta, and only put bechamel and cheese on top. It's still a hefty meal but that can make a fair difference, and it's definitely worth the calories for me. Heck, even restaurant lasagne is worth the calories for me. I've always loved lasagne with a deep and abiding passion and will happily eat crackers for the rest of the day, or go to maintenance or above, for the sake of a wodge of the good stuff.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,231 Member
    Anything high calorie that tastes like crap. I have no issue spending calories on yummy items, but it makes me so sad when I decide to work my day to have something high calorie, and look forward to it, then I get it and it's horrible. Most recently happened with KFC. It tasted like sadness :(
  • wannehunter85
    wannehunter85 Posts: 133
    Heavy sauces like gravy or pre-prepped alfredo. I'd rather make my own homemade sauces that are low cal and taste pretty good. Or I just use natural herbs and seasonings for my food.
  • hellokathy
    hellokathy Posts: 540 Member
    You guys are gonna hate me now but...bacon. Never understood the love for it. It's not gross but not worth the hype, either. And especially not worth the calories.
  • therealtomtom
    therealtomtom Posts: 5 Member
    My weight loss has slowed recently because of birthday parties!

    Party food/buffett food.

    It's the fact you don't monitor what you eat. Chocolate, cake, crisps it's nice but I have to leave it.

    As mentioned I have not had peanut butter in a while.

    I try to offset now alot of treats with walking.

    I have list a good chunk of weight and am going to get strict again, but half way through the process and a few treats are OK.

    I think what it has done is made me realise what I am eating and I do try to regulate it slightly more.

    They are no longer guilt free treats.

    Like I say, the few treats I am having have not had me put any weight on, but my reduction has just plat-toed but I know why.
  • Rachifloon
    Rachifloon Posts: 129 Member
    My mum bought mini pork pies the other day. Being small I thought I would pinch one, but first I had to look up the nutritional value and boy was I glad I did: 167 calories and nearly 9g of fat for something that could fit on a tablespoon! Was utterly not worth me taking a second thought over.
  • Louise1583
    Louise1583 Posts: 97 Member
    I know people are going to yell and throw things but... peanut butter.

    I'm going to yell and throw things in agreement. I try to not buy it because it's like crack to me, but OHMYGOD I love peanut butter.

    Don't get me started on almond butter...
  • freemystery
    freemystery Posts: 184 Member
    Mayonnaise. God I could eat it with everything. But when you look at it properly and realise you basically doubled your calories for the meal with just the condiments, you have to make some difficult decisions!

    Bad cheese. You know bad cheese is just as calorie heavy as good cheese? I'm making the call that I'll skip out on the bad stuff so I can have more of the good stuff.

    For me, bread only ever used to be a way of eating jam/ cheese/ any sandwich without getting your hands dirty. Now by eliminating it I save like 300 cals. I could eat a chocolate bar for that!

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