Empty calories?

LoveLeavesFootprints
LoveLeavesFootprints Posts: 19 Member
edited September 30 in Food and Nutrition
Is it ever okay to eat empty calories?

Most days, I have a difficult time meeting my calorie goal of 1410. If I can't meet the goal for any given day, is it better to consume empty calories and get my number up, or stay where I am, however low?

Replies

  • Tywana
    Tywana Posts: 135 Member
    IDK good question. I don't really think it's ever a good time to eat empty cals. Maybe eating carrot sticks, or any raw veggies can help. Everybody is different so it all really depends on your body.
  • cnldance
    cnldance Posts: 47 Member
    well if your metabolism is slow (like mine) then you might want to eat those empty calories to get your metabolism running
  • MrCake
    MrCake Posts: 53
    Don't eat empty calories. Its name should be straight forward enough for you to try and avoid them. How come you would be able to eat empty calories and not good food?
  • natersmama
    natersmama Posts: 157
    i do it if i'm under my calories. it makes sense to me to do it at the end of the day when you need to catch up rather than just eat them all day and be starving at the end. so then you eat everything anyways, and go over.
  • LoveLeavesFootprints
    LoveLeavesFootprints Posts: 19 Member
    I don't know, just for the sake of argument.

    For example.. when I get home from working out during the week, it's nearly 9 pm and I'm very, very not hungry. But let's say (since I just worked out) I'm short 900 calories. My question is more... would it be better to eat (or drink) something very small but high-cal, or eat something healthy and low-cal that I'll have to have a lot MORE of?
  • splashwags
    splashwags Posts: 262 Member
    Wish I had that problem, but I might suggest a small handfull of nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans). Good for you, and should help close that gap.
  • withchaco
    withchaco Posts: 1,026 Member
    If you're hungry, have enough calories left to eat, AND have eaten sufficient protein/ fiber/ etc, why not?

    MrCake has a good point though. While I think it's totally "okay" to eat empty calories under the aforementioned circumstances, there are more nutritious options you could go for instead.
  • MrCake
    MrCake Posts: 53
    I don't know, just for the sake of argument.

    For example.. when I get home from working out during the week, it's nearly 9 pm and I'm very, very not hungry. But let's say (since I just worked out) I'm short 900 calories. My question is more... would it be better to eat (or drink) something very small but high-cal, or eat something healthy and low-cal that I'll have to have a lot MORE of?

    After a workout your body requires a good amount of nutrients to recover properly. Protein, carbs, vitamins, minerals etc. In my opinion, which I admit might be a bit exaggerated, having empty calories after a workout is basically giving that workout up to waste. In my mind there is no really no proper reasoning for which empty calories will be acceptable whenever healthier options are available. I'll stop here and say that at least for me it would be easier to make conclusions with some examples of what these empty calories are that you are eaten, as right now I'm just making a lot of assumptions.
  • mghane
    mghane Posts: 109 Member
    Best way to get calories up is to do a quick smoothie of fresh fruit and veggies with some added protein powder or flax powder... or if you have a juicer, some carrot juice would help. I wouldn't go for the empty calories, do something that you know will be good for you, but that isn't so much "food".
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