Do you count calories in vegetables or is there no point?

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ItalianChick90
ItalianChick90 Posts: 34 Member
edited May 2015 in Health and Weight Loss
What is your opinion of vegetables and calorie counting? Do you do it or is it not important enough? I was once told veggies are a "free" food so I'm asking whether I should count them or not.
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Replies

  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
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    I count everything I put in my mouth..... Giggity.
  • Chewitz
    Chewitz Posts: 217 Member
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    Yes weigh them on a scale and log in the calories :)
  • GreenIceFloes
    GreenIceFloes Posts: 1,491 Member
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    You have to count them.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
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    I count everything.

    Veggies have calories and besides counting them is a good way to keep track of how many you are eating and encourage yourself to eat more if you aren't eating enough. For me logging is about seeing and understanding my overall diet.
  • Keiko385
    Keiko385 Posts: 514 Member
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    I think that was a WW thing as long as you ate just plain veggies but as soon as you combined or added anything the points added up quickly. You would be surprised how many calories are in those freebies.
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
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    Why would you not count them?

    Vegetables contain calories. Sure they are less calorie dense than say a t-bone steak but they still have calories nonetheless. Getting in the mindset that a certain food is a "free" food because it is more nutritious than another food will do nothing but set you up for failure. For something like this to work you have to hold yourself accountable for everything that crosses your lips, low calorie or not.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
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    Yep it was a WW thing and this isnt WW. It has calories and if you eat enough then vegetables can add up tp hundreds of calories, so you should count them. If you dont count them then you arent calorie counting are you.
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
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    I log my food not just to count calories but to monitor my nutrients. I count everything.
  • mk2fit
    mk2fit Posts: 730 Member
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    Yep, count 'em.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,426 Member
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    Vegetable have calories. If you are doing calorie counting then you should count them.

    Having said that, if you miss counting the calories of a couple of lettuce leaves it isn't going to impact your total much compared to missing an avocado.
  • mch2829
    mch2829 Posts: 70 Member
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    A can of plain pinto beans with no seasoning has more calories than a McDouble from McDonalds. I don't know why you wouldn't count that.
  • tiffanybrooks530
    tiffanybrooks530 Posts: 140 Member
    edited May 2015
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    randomtai wrote: »
    I count everything I put in my mouth..... Giggity.

    :D lol

    and yes i count vegetables since I want to keep track of calories and nutrients.
  • fswku
    fswku Posts: 19 Member
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    Everything has calories. Therefore, everything gets counted.

    There is no such thing as a freebie or "negative calories." Plus, some fruits and vegetables contain a startling amount of sugar, so you want that counted as well.
  • Whittedo
    Whittedo Posts: 352 Member
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    If logging vegetables wasn't important there would be no reason for vegans to be on MFP. As a matter of fact there would be no overweight vegans.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
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    Vegetables have calories. 100 grams is a common veggie serving. Go into your diary and log 500 grams of a veggie (5 servings a day x 100 g.) Look at the total calories. See how many calories you'd be underestimating your calorie intake by each day?
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
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    The Weight Watchers point system is designed so that it sort of accounts for the calories in the vegetables by coming in low on the calories it allows you in points.

    MFP isn't designed that way. Here, you're counting every calorie, so YES... log and count your veggies.
  • Childfree1991
    Childfree1991 Posts: 145 Member
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    randomtai wrote: »
    I count everything I put in my mouth..... Giggity.

    Oh gosh, lol.

  • MiloBloom83
    MiloBloom83 Posts: 2,723 Member
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    randomtai wrote: »
    I count everything I put in my mouth..... Giggity.

    Hopefully, you are hitting your protein macro....

  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
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    MiloBloom83 wrote: »
    randomtai wrote: »
    I count everything I put in my mouth..... Giggity.

    Hopefully, you are hitting your protein macro....

    Always... a little pineapple juice and I hit my carb macros too. :)
  • dutchandkiwi
    dutchandkiwi Posts: 1,389 Member
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    I log them. I don't see why not. It is not only the calories that count IMO it is also about having a healthy ration on macro. Plus not all vegetables are created equal.

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