does bad food count if your still under your calorie goal?

yes.

i'm still at the 'as long as i'm under on calories' thing. I guess I should be watching nutrition.. but I love jelly beans and spearming leaves...

Depends on your outlook on food beforehand
Some people use MFP for a complete diet change to eat healthier
Personally MFP has been brilliant purely for moderation, I still enjoy little snacks like crisps, just less of them
And thats worked out pretty well for me

Depends how you feel. Some nights, I really stretch my calorie goal and incorporate lots of fruit and veggies, whole grains, protein, etc.

But some nights, like last night, I had a whole box of Hot Tamale candies for dinner just because I really wanted them.

Straight-up weight loss comes down to being in a calorie deficit, no matter where you get the calories from. I say treat yourself to the "less healthy" stuff every now and then - knowing that I can have a whole box of Hot Tamales every once in a blue moon keeps me from feeling deprived

Absolutely agree!

I had three pitas filled with peanut butter and banana for dinner tonight 'cause it fit in my calories!!! (I've been known to make less nutritious choices as well!!)

If you keep under the calorie goal but you manage to sneak in grilled cheese and a muesli bar that has no nutritional value what so ever does it still count?
or say keep under your goal but accidently eat half a bag of chips surely thats bad but im under the goal!!

Ahhh When I first read the title of this thread, I was thinking somebody was going to ask if EVERYTHING they were going to eat that day were bad, would it still be okay if they were under the calorie goal LOL!.

Blimey one bag of chips or that muesli bar is not going to hurt you x

I asked the same question, essentially if your only counting calories, then staying under is staying under but I found I felt poorly after eating certain foods and for me this journey is about improving my quality of life, part of that journey is losing weight. yes I want to lose weight but I also want to feel healthy, positive and motivated.

Keep in mind some days are better then others, my goal is to have more better days.

I believe that even if you stay under your calorie goal, one should try to stay away from eating those types of food. Yes you are under your calorie goal , but you have to ask yourself are you making good lifelong choices?
I will use myself as an example, up to a few months ago I used to not have breakfast in the mornings, and just eat nonstop at dinner time, and I would always use that same excuse.

All food goes towards your calorie count.

You may also want to watch the protein, fat, sodium and other levels.

The foods you eat will all add up to your calorie limit but some foods will throw your fat and sodium levels way off while others may not provide enough protein. You don't have to match the goals exactly each day trying to come close is easier with what most people would generally consider to be "healthier" foods.

Just my non-professional two cents. (Speaking from my experience.)

I believe that even if you stay under your calorie goal, one should try to stay away from eating those types of food. Yes you are under your calorie goal , but you have to ask yourself are you making good lifelong choices?
I will use myself as an example, up to a few months ago I used to not have breakfast in the mornings, and just eat nonstop at dinner time, and I would always use that same excuse.

My lifelong choices will still include chips, grilled cheese, pizza, burgers, cupcakes, and more. I just watch my portions and have them occasionally instead of all the time. I don't want to have a life where I can't enjoy some of my favorite foods. It would not be a change I could live with and I don't think anyone should feel like they have to.

I think that every once in a while is fine. But if most
Of your diet is fairly low in nutritional value, then you could be setting yourself up for failure. By continuing to eat 'bad' thins, like sugar for example, your body will continue to crave it. The. When you stop 'dieting' you may be tempted to fall back to those foods you crave and may gain back the weight you lost.

Ive been told you want to lose weight live on salad and stop eating crap. but after joining i find i can still sneak in cheese (hmmm cheese) or some other form of naughty food and still be under my goal. feels like cheating!!

I am a cheese addict too. A life without cheese is no life at all.

Ive been told you want to lose weight live on salad and stop eating crap. but after joining i find i can still sneak in cheese (hmmm cheese) or some other form of naughty food and still be under my goal. feels like cheating!!

The person who told you this is making it up! You can eat anything you want and as long as you are under your calorie goal you will certainly lose some weight.

BUT, if you want to keep losing weight and stay healthy for the long term then it is a good idea to make sure that the majority of your food is giving you good nutrition. There's nothing wrong with grilled cheese or chips or sweets as long as you are eating them as part of a mix that includes fruit and veggies, whole grains, lean meat or other sources of protein.

If you start to see certain food as bad, or forbidden (unless you have a diagnosed medical reason to avoid them) then you are setting yourself up to fail because you will constantly feel deprived and it's very hard to sustain this way of eating for the long term.