I find gnocchi better value for calories than pasta, gram for gram. I do have to weigh carefully though, to get the right numbers - it's not something I can eyeball.
With pizza, it depends on the type. Some pizza isn't worth it, but I'm fond of a tiny deep pan for 400 to 450 calories. Hits the spot, and can be easily worked into a day.
Chocolate products are generally quite poor value calorie wise - I find it better to just have a square of actual chocolate rather than a cake or biscuit with chocolate in it.
I find oil a major rip off. I've replaced cooking oil with oil spray and saved hundreds of calories that way.
Ice cream - unless it's Halo Top. Again, a tub of Ben and Jerry's is nice, but it's just not worth the calories.
A slice of Costco pizza at the food court is about 700 calories !!!!! WTF??? How? I haven't eaten a slice since I found out the calories years ago. SOOOO not worth it. I'll go for gourmet pizza any day than that Costco slice. UGGGGH
Sorry, pizza is never a ripoff
Now peanut butter or chocolate, those are major ripoffs!
I’d have to agree! Much as I love peanut butter (and to a lesser extent chocolate) I just don’t find either to be helpful on the calorie vs satiety scale.
One I’d add too - avocado. Again, I love it but it goes down way too easily for the calories!
Oh, and bananas. They lack both the crispness and freshness of other fruit - which is what I love about fruit, yet they are higher in calories. Waste of space! 😂
I agree with muffins and bagels, but not with pork. At least pork loin, or even pulled pork on occasion when I've had a little more burn, but I could see pork bacon/sausage being an issue.
Maybe this is blasphemy but pancakes, French toast and/or waffles with maple syrup. Maybe literally one bite is worth it, but after eating a serving, I regret it.
Mayonnaise on sandwiches.
Cheese on burritos or tacos.
Butter on biscuits, pancakes, and waffles.
But pizza and pasta are definitely worth it.
White rice usually isn't worth it to me, because it's so bland. If I can't get brown rice when I order Chinese takeout, I'll save the rice for another day and make some like fried rice; fried rice cakes; soup with rice, egg, lemon, and mint (it came from a Molly Katzen cookbook, but I may have altered it somewhat over the years since I don't bother to look at the recipe any more); or rice pudding.
Oh, you have to be careful with sausages. My butcher does some amazing pork sausages for 180 calories each - I have to 'ration' them in pasta, or eat as a 'hot dog' with mustard and a small roll, without any sides.
I'm currently exploring veggie alternatives, as you can often get more bang for your buck. I've just bought some vegan sausages which are 79 calories each - haven't tried them yet, but am hopeful they will be nice.
I wouldn't say mayo is a waste of calories, but full fat mayo is. Light mayo is such an easy swap. Better yet is mustard or ketchup, depending on the food.
Replies
Birds eye do a bag of frozen vegetable rice 184 calories u could do that with some meatballs and tomato passata
Now peanut butter or chocolate, those are major ripoffs!
With pizza, it depends on the type. Some pizza isn't worth it, but I'm fond of a tiny deep pan for 400 to 450 calories. Hits the spot, and can be easily worked into a day.
Chocolate products are generally quite poor value calorie wise - I find it better to just have a square of actual chocolate rather than a cake or biscuit with chocolate in it.
I find oil a major rip off. I've replaced cooking oil with oil spray and saved hundreds of calories that way.
Ice cream - unless it's Halo Top. Again, a tub of Ben and Jerry's is nice, but it's just not worth the calories.
I’d have to agree! Much as I love peanut butter (and to a lesser extent chocolate) I just don’t find either to be helpful on the calorie vs satiety scale.
One I’d add too - avocado. Again, I love it but it goes down way too easily for the calories!
Oh, and bananas. They lack both the crispness and freshness of other fruit - which is what I love about fruit, yet they are higher in calories. Waste of space! 😂
That said pierogi is a tough one to fit in a proper meal. Tell me who exactly eats only three of them?
I also don't have the room or desire to fit "funny cereals" (think Frosted Flakes et al.) into my week anymore.
Neither gives me enough bang for the bite.
Chips are worth the calories, but I have discipline issues with them so we generally don’t buy them.
Sweets are what aren’t worth it to me. Like cookies or a brownie. I just don’t enjoy them enough to use my calories on them.
Cheese on burritos or tacos.
Butter on biscuits, pancakes, and waffles.
But pizza and pasta are definitely worth it.
White rice usually isn't worth it to me, because it's so bland. If I can't get brown rice when I order Chinese takeout, I'll save the rice for another day and make some like fried rice; fried rice cakes; soup with rice, egg, lemon, and mint (it came from a Molly Katzen cookbook, but I may have altered it somewhat over the years since I don't bother to look at the recipe any more); or rice pudding.
I'm currently exploring veggie alternatives, as you can often get more bang for your buck. I've just bought some vegan sausages which are 79 calories each - haven't tried them yet, but am hopeful they will be nice.
I wouldn't say mayo is a waste of calories, but full fat mayo is. Light mayo is such an easy swap. Better yet is mustard or ketchup, depending on the food.