Do you count the calories of your herbs and spices

monkeypantz
monkeypantz Posts: 288 Member
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
Hi All,

I make a lot of food from scratch and I don't usually count the calories of the herbs and spices I mix in. I'm very good with everything else though that goes in, but not quiet the herbs and spices.

Do you think it makes a difference?

What do you do?

Mandy XXX

Replies

  • nickyfm
    nickyfm Posts: 1,214 Member
    Uh, no lol. I didn't even think that herbs had a caloric value anywhere north of like, 1 cal lol.

    I've lost 10 pounds never counting herbs, and I love chilli flakes, pepper, tumerik and cinnamon.
  • roguex_1979
    roguex_1979 Posts: 247 Member
    I'm no scientist, but I think the amount of calories in herbs and spices are negligible. That's not to say that things like stock cubes, which are quite high in salt, shouldn't be counted. And unless you dumped a whole spice rack in your food, I doubt it would make an impact (maybe 1 or two calories).
  • sweetbeckymarie
    sweetbeckymarie Posts: 144
    Yeah I don't think it matters too much, herbs aren't unhealthy and they don't skew your days nutritional value very much so I only add them if I feel like it. Same with plain black coffee, or sugar free gum. Call me lazy but oh well haha.
  • tinawharrison
    tinawharrison Posts: 123
    I use a packet of herbs and spices when I make mexican, i count the calories in those only because the packet has a bar code! It's about 9 calories for the whole packet. :laugh:
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    File under "Life's too short" :happy:
  • tinawharrison
    tinawharrison Posts: 123
    File under "Life's too short" :happy:

    Love this :laugh:
  • nero82
    nero82 Posts: 27
    woaahhhhh..... no.

    If I did that I would NEVER get anything done. I'd spend my whole life logging my meals.
  • iwillsoonbeslim
    iwillsoonbeslim Posts: 283
    I don't count:
    Herbs and spices, vinegars, garlic, plain lettuce leaves, tabasco, Worcester sauce or my infrequent diet sodas. I don't think there's anything else I don't log though?
  • monkeypantz
    monkeypantz Posts: 288 Member
    OK Good to know I'm not the only one :)

    Thanks Guys!
  • iwillsoonbeslim
    iwillsoonbeslim Posts: 283
    I don't count:
    Herbs and spices, vinegars, garlic, plain lettuce leaves, tabasco, Worcester sauce, sugar free gum or my infrequent diet sodas. I don't think there's anything else I don't log though?
  • Kymmu
    Kymmu Posts: 1,650 Member
    I do, but I'm like that...I also look at the carb content so everything goes on my list.
  • Deinonychus
    Deinonychus Posts: 70
    Good heavens no. I don't count condiments either.
  • Vegetablearian
    Vegetablearian Posts: 148 Member
    the only things I count are salad cream, mayonaise and ketchup as they have cals and sugar etc but herbs no way :-)
  • Siannah
    Siannah Posts: 456 Member
    No I don't count them
  • DFWTT
    DFWTT Posts: 374
    Nope, but I do count the sodium if the info is there. Haven't figured out how to just add sodium to MFP diet yet though.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,220 Member
    Yes of course. I'm up to 47 calories after 18 months.
  • MrsSWW
    MrsSWW Posts: 1,585 Member
    I do, but not because I'm concerned about the calories - more because if I like something I've cooked I know what I've put in it! That's why I like others to put all their ingredients in too :flowerforyou:

    4558573.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Nutrition Facts For Foods
  • jhann16
    jhann16 Posts: 62
    woaahhhhh..... no.

    If I did that I would NEVER get anything done. I'd spend my whole life logging my meals.

    Agreed.
  • Jweb8969
    Jweb8969 Posts: 136 Member
    i definitely count all condiments - including bbq sauce - but never herbs and spices ~ ;)
  • spngebobmyhero
    spngebobmyhero Posts: 823 Member
    depends on the amount of spices. When I cook Indian, I use a huge amount of spices and you would be surprised by how they add up! I made mashed Indian-spiced cauliflower the other day (delish by the way!) and there was about 100 calories worth of spices in the dish.
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    Unfortunately my answer is no. I always tend to forget to count those. Fortunately the calories are very low. Unfortunately the sodium is not
  • Eshades
    Eshades Posts: 30 Member
    I dont think I would.
  • Eshades
    Eshades Posts: 30 Member
    Yes of course. I'm up to 47 calories after 18 months.

    :laugh: Love it!
  • delmc1
    delmc1 Posts: 331 Member
    most spices increase your metabolic rate ,burns extra calories so its win win
  • NateDad
    NateDad Posts: 55
    Herbs and spices generally have no calories anyway. Condiments definitely can (ketchup has a bunch of sugar in it, for example). Watch out for spice packets, like taco seasoning... they can have some sugar or carbs as filler, and they usually have a ton of salt. Taco spices are about the only thing we use very often that is a pre-made mix, so I record that for the (very high) sodium and the few calories. But if you're talking basil, marjoram, thyme etc? Don't bother. There's no calories and even if there were, you use so little it would be inconsequential.

    Make it as easy on yourself as possible to keep logging your foods. The few calories you might miss is worth sticking with it.
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