What foods are just not worth the # of calories?
Replies
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Nuts & Dried fruit mix. Rich in Monounsaturated fat but far too highly calorific.2
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I gave you all likes and I'd give you double ones if I could but I can't reconcile what foods are not worth it vs. new ones we've found that are worth it or imagining what would we do if we had the calories. I have them and it's all worth it. A bite of this and a bite of that.
That doesn't mean I want people dropping off food for me to eat in large quantities or bringing me over their half-eaten boxes of chocolates. I want to be free to have any and everything for the rest of my life. I think quest bars are cute and adorable. Snickers, too. It's taken me years to rid myself of all or nothing thinking.
If you've ever had a big weight loss and eaten it all back, had to pick yourself back UP and find your way back you know what I'm talking about. I did completely the opposite of what I did the last time. I changed everything UP.
I wanted to answer this because there may be someone out there like me who needs to give themselves permission to eat whatever they want and track their data points.2 -
Learning moderation is great. But this isn't about foods being 'off the table'. No foods are forbidden for me, but there are still foods that aren't worth the calories to me.
It's like my salary: I could spend it on many things, but I'd rather spend it on useful things (nutrients, food that are filling) or pleasurable (tasty) or (ideally) both. For some foods, the usefulness/pleasure to calorie ratio is too poor and I rarely consume them, because I'd rather spend my 'money' on something else.
Exactly. I don't forbid myself foods that aren't "worth the calories," I just would really rather not eat them because I will enjoy other things so much more. I'm still eating what I want, I'm just skipping stuff that doesn't taste that great for the number of calories it has.9 -
Diatonic12 wrote: »I gave you all likes and I'd give you double ones if I could but I can't reconcile what foods are not worth it vs. new ones we've found that are worth it or imagining what would we do if we had the calories. I have them and it's all worth it. A bite of this and a bite of that.
That doesn't mean I want people dropping off food for me to eat in large quantities or bringing me over their half-eaten boxes of chocolates. I want to be free to have any and everything for the rest of my life. I think quest bars are cute and adorable. Snickers, too. It's taken me years to rid myself of all or nothing thinking.
If you've ever had a big weight loss and eaten it all back, had to pick yourself back UP and find your way back you know what I'm talking about. I did completely the opposite of what I did the last time. I changed everything UP.
I wanted to answer this because there may be someone out there like me who needs to give themselves permission to eat whatever they want and track their data points.
Just wondering why you think quest bars are "cute and adorable"? Do you think all protein bars are cute and adorable or just quest bars? What about them is cute? I've just never heard anyone describe a quest bar (or any bar in general unless it was mini) that way so I am genuinely curious.6 -
pancakerunner wrote: »
“Fruit” juices. Aka sugar water with “natural” flavoring haha
What you describe isn't labelled as fruit juice in most places.
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Fruit juice - by which I mean fruit juice, not fruit juice drink. I'd rather eat fruit.
Smoothies. Waste of good fruit.
Shop bought cake.
Fake ice cream like Halo top.2 -
In defense of granola, I like to put a quarter to a half-serving on top of my fruit/yogurt/kefir parfait in the morning for the "crunch" factor. It's not that many calories for a glorious mouthfeel.5
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Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »Diatonic12 wrote: »I gave you all likes and I'd give you double ones if I could but I can't reconcile what foods are not worth it vs. new ones we've found that are worth it or imagining what would we do if we had the calories. I have them and it's all worth it. A bite of this and a bite of that.
That doesn't mean I want people dropping off food for me to eat in large quantities or bringing me over their half-eaten boxes of chocolates. I want to be free to have any and everything for the rest of my life. I think quest bars are cute and adorable. Snickers, too. It's taken me years to rid myself of all or nothing thinking.
If you've ever had a big weight loss and eaten it all back, had to pick yourself back UP and find your way back you know what I'm talking about. I did completely the opposite of what I did the last time. I changed everything UP.
I wanted to answer this because there may be someone out there like me who needs to give themselves permission to eat whatever they want and track their data points.
Just wondering why you think quest bars are "cute and adorable"? Do you think all protein bars are cute and adorable or just quest bars? What about them is cute? I've just never heard anyone describe a quest bar (or any bar in general unless it was mini) that way so I am genuinely curious.
I was wondering the same thing.2 -
Pretty much anything that is just meh...most highly processed food goods and ready meals, commercial baked goods, fast food, mass produced sodas, most candies, most national chain franchises, etc...1
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Sweet potato casserole is actually good (as a dessert)0
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pancakerunner wrote: »Sweet potato casserole is actually good (as a dessert)
oops. wrong thread lol2 -
Most restaurant food. They just throw in extra fat and sugar (and salt, but that doesn't add calories) to make it taste "better". I actually prefer the versions I make at home with way more veggies and way less fat.
Alcohol (which I can't have now due to GERD), but when I could, I almost always would pick spending those calories on chocolate instead.4 -
I don't drink anything with calories (soda, juice, frappuccino-type drinks) except alcohol or the occasional skinny cappuccino. It's just not worth the calories. I rather eat them.
I also try to be more selective with items such as cake. If it's a good cake, from a nice bakery, get it in to me! But a crappy one from the supermarket, not worth it.7 -
Also not worth the calories for me is cheese on sandwiches and burgers.
I like cheese in certain applications, but a slice on a sandwich/burger does nothing for me. Before counting calories, if I was served a sandwich with cheese, I'd just eat it. Now, I pick it off and save the calories for a cookie or something.6 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »Also not worth the calories for me is cheese on sandwiches and burgers.
I like cheese in certain applications, but a slice on a sandwich/burger does nothing for me. Before counting calories, if I was served a sandwich with cheese, I'd just eat it. Now, I pick it off and save the calories for a cookie or something.
It depends on the cheese. If it adds to the complexity of the burger or sandwich it's worth it... i.e. bacon blue cheese burger... but just plain, flavorless cheese slices? No thanks2 -
For me it's become fast food (with some exceptions). I used to eat a ton of fast food and I now realize that at least 75% of the time, it doesn't even taste that good, it just gives me that carb/fat/salt fix. Now, if I want a burger, I'll get a really good, gourmet burger. It probably has more calories than the one from McDonalds, but taste-wise you can't even compare.
For me, it's less about specific foods not being worth it and more about the quality of said foods. I'm blessed enough to be able to spend a little more money on higher quality food, so I won't waste my calories on cheap food anymore (fast food, grocery store baked goods, etc.).11 -
Nothing.
Well, the dairy-free ice cream in my freezer, because if I eat it it and it is not even good for me it better taste good! That horrible boysenberry-strawberry-sugar abomination is going to be thrown away.0 -
I think others covered most of mine already...
Soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages
Juice
Most baked goods (cakes, muffins, cookies, pie, quick breads, etc)
A lot of restaurant entrees (not all)
Chocolate candy (still have trouble even keeping this in the house, especially English toffee)
Fries, chips, tater tots0 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »Also not worth the calories for me is cheese on sandwiches and burgers.
I like cheese in certain applications, but a slice on a sandwich/burger does nothing for me. Before counting calories, if I was served a sandwich with cheese, I'd just eat it. Now, I pick it off and save the calories for a cookie or something.
I've been giving this one some thought lately. I looooove cheese and always put it on my turkey or chicken sandwiches, but the other day I was asking myself "can I really even taste it?" It's like I've been putting cheese on sandwiches just out of habit so I'm definitely going to have to try one without and see if/how much I miss it.3 -
Alcohol and soda. Most juice too.
But mostly because I don't like them generally. And because they often don't like me back!1 -
Cinnamon doughnuts and anything from MacDonalds.1
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Juices, full calorie soda
high calorie breads when there are so many others to pick from
cheap chocolate candy like Palmers, yuck
I wish I could say donuts, cookies, cake, ice cream and pie but my sweet tooth would argue that point.1 -
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Avoid chick fila sauce - 140 cals
Avoid most salad dressing (keep to 30 cals or less per 2 tablespoons) Olive Garden lite, Kraft balsamic lite ok
Avoid most Cheese products, about 100 cals an ounce
I do endorse full fat cottage cheese for breakfast. 2oz with a couple of chopped almonds on top. It keeps me satisfied with eating very little (first thing).
Sugar drinks are mostly wasted cals including juice, licorice is ridiculously high, ribs are ridiculously high, you have to be really careful with pasta portion, a plate of spaghetti could be your entire cals for the day.
Chocolate dark is ok...but small portion. Very small.
Avoid syrups, sugar.
Avoid all cooking oils, instead steam/saute food with broth and water. Use seasonings for flavor. Also I use a lot of lemon and lime for flavor.
Burger is ok but don’t eat the top bun, remember each fry is 10 cals. Never eat more than 10-20.
Just don’t eat pizza....unless it is a very very special occasion. They taste so good but each slice is 250-450 depending on crust, cheese and greasy toppings.
Bagels are too dense and not worth it.
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Juice
Soda pop
Cookies catered at work (a thing I had to remind myself of often... Back when working in person was a thing). Or other mediocre desserts. Although it's not always easy to tell before taking one.
Little Debbie or other grocery store desserts
Most other things are worth it to me
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Avoid chick fila sauce - 140 cals
Avoid most salad dressing (keep to 30 cals or less per 2 tablespoons) Olive Garden lite, Kraft balsamic lite ok
Avoid most Cheese products, about 100 cals an ounce
I do endorse full fat cottage cheese for breakfast. 2oz with a couple of chopped almonds on top. It keeps me satisfied with eating very little (first thing).
Sugar drinks are mostly wasted cals including juice, licorice is ridiculously high, ribs are ridiculously high, you have to be really careful with pasta portion, a plate of spaghetti could be your entire cals for the day.
Chocolate dark is ok...but small portion. Very small.
Avoid syrups, sugar.
Avoid all cooking oils, instead steam/saute food with broth and water. Use seasonings for flavor. Also I use a lot of lemon and lime for flavor.
Burger is ok but don’t eat the top bun, remember each fry is 10 cals. Never eat more than 10-20.
Just don’t eat pizza....unless it is a very very special occasion. They taste so good but each slice is 250-450 depending on crust, cheese and greasy toppings.
Bagels are too dense and not worth it.
Are these recommendations for you or in general for everyone?7 -
Although I like it, I'd have to say pasta. It's just not satiating unless I can have a huge bowl, but I always find I'm hungry a few hours later. But that penne a la vodka, though. I do miss that! But, yeah, traditional spaghetti I can do without.
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ALL FOODS are worth the calories of you actually like to eat something and enjoy it. It's only NOT WORTH it if you ate it and DIDN'T like it.
The issue here is people blame high calorie foods for their demise and weight gain. It's not the food's FAULT. It's the LACK OF DISCIPLINE from the person. Not being able to STOP CONSUMPTION is a discipline thing.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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What's really funny here is that a lot of what people have posted are available to many other countries and they eat them, but DON'T have the same weight issues as Americans. Americans are pretty smug when it comes to food consumption. Like many things in America, bigger is better and keeping up with the Jones is so important.
So the focus is on work, money and social media and forgetting about health.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition 3
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