Quantity vs Quality debate

As long as you don't go over your calorie goal you're fine . You have to remember that everyone is different so no two people are alike when it comes to food and what works best for them. Keep up the good work!

I think that there are people who are living proof of both sides. It's a matter of preferance and what works for you. I prefer quality for the most part. I use real butter (less chemicals, more natural), natural whole wheat bread, etc. I think it's better to avoid chemicals because our bodies can use natural foods and ingredients better.

To me, eat as healthily as you can while loosing weight. It's not easy, and often there's a trade off.

Your diet should have sufficient micronutrients and minerals.

Agreed. I would only add that I think that the idea of "sufficient" when it comes to micronutrients and minerals might not be well defined. In general, I think the RDA recommendation is thought to be sufficient to prevent acute deficiency, but not necessarily sufficient to promote long-term health and help prevent disease. I think nutrition science is a long way off from knowing everything about the way these substances function in our body.

(Here I'm assuming that by "better" you mean "better for overall health" and not just weight loss and body composition.)

It depends on your goals. In the long-run, I say definitely choose quality over quantity. You might be able to eat 4 slices of processed low-cal wheat bread for the same calories as 1 slice of high-quality whole wheat, but I bet the latter is absorbed much better by the body and used for fuel the way that it should be. If you are vastly overweight, then dropping some pounds might be your most important goal at first. It's simple calories in vs. calories out. In that case, eating low-cal versions of foods so that you can eat more of it to feel full might be important to you. However, I believe that eventually, everyone needs to deal with the issue of the quality of the food they are putting into their body. For me, I have tested it out and found that if I eat fruits, veggies, and high-fiber grains and other carbs, I lose weight better and feel better than if I eat low-call over-processed foods and the same number of calories. Not to mention, I feel SO much better and more engergized. Losing weight is simple and complicated at the same time. And sooner or later, it becomes less about losing weight and more about being healthy. Healthy, of course, means maintaining a healthy weight, but it also means giving your body the right kind of fuel and nutrients.

That's my two cents.

I tend to lean the way you do... I just feel better when I eat the real thing... That might be mental though. I think it's fine to have the option and take advantage once in a while, but I prefer the basics.

I happen to agree with you. If I eat 'fake products' I am never fully satiated and then tend to binge and over eat. So while his might work for you, your foods are more nutrient rich including actual fat.

Here's my example... I can drink 3 diet sodas at once but when i pick up a regular soda it's hard to drink the hole can. With the diet soda I'm more than likely reaching for a bag of chips as well.

To me, eat as healthily as you can while loosing weight. It's not easy, and often there's a trade off.

This.

It's a matter of preference. What do you see yourself eating for the rest of your life? I used to eat the 35 calorie bread when "dieting" but would never eat that bread otherwise, that's was a bad plan on my part. Now I am incorporating more real foods in my "diet." But I find that somethings just don't matter a much, for example skim milk is fine by me.

Depends on the context of the situation, therefore neither of your examples could show one is better than the other. If your asking is less processed better, generally speaking, yes we can make that corrolation, but not all the time, again depending on the goals set by the individual. Eating natural food but not hitting your required calories can make that big mack important on that occation.

I agree with the Big Mack theory lol