Do I count calories from fruits and vegetables?

bonbon_bee
bonbon_bee Posts: 10
in Health and Weight Loss
I did WW for a while and fruits and veggies were "free" (except corn, potatoes, avocados, and bananas). I'm counting the calories of everything that I eat except the fruits and veggies; I feel like I shouldn't "punish" myself for choosing cherry tomatoes over Hershey's kisses.

Should I be counting the calories of ALL the foods I eat, including the fruits and veggies? Again, I don't want to "punish" myself by subtracting calories from my daily amount, even though I chose wisely. Suggestions? Anyone else not counting their fruit and vegetable calories?

Thanks :smile:
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Replies

  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
    It isn't a punishment, it is just an honest account of what you are taking in. No more, no less.
  • nashai01
    nashai01 Posts: 536 Member
    I never thought of it before. I normally count them since the fruits and veggies never have too many calories in them anyway.
  • skyecita
    skyecita Posts: 6 Member
    I count them. I record everything in MFP, even diet soda, coffee and splenda. I imagine it depends on how many calories of veggies you are eating whether it makes a big difference. I think I eat about 100-150 calories of veggies a day.
  • lindquistfamof4
    lindquistfamof4 Posts: 1 Member
    I say account for everything you put in your mouth. It helps you keep track of the good stuff you are giving your body. Doing this also helps you track the sugars (even natural sugars) you're putting in your body. Fruits can be high in calories and by not counting them you may be sabatoging your weight loss. It also helps me realize why I am eating. If I have to log in and account for it I think about whether I am really hungry. Good luck to you :) I am 16.2 pounds down since March 20th :)
  • ilovekc
    ilovekc Posts: 46 Member
    Anything you eat has to be logged
  • jessicakate329
    jessicakate329 Posts: 7
    I came here from weight watchers as well and I loved the free fruit and vegetables. On MFP I track fruit just because it does have sugar but I rarely track vegetables unless they're in some kind of sauce or butter. Do whatever works for you and if you find you're not losing then start tracking everything.
  • mon696
    mon696 Posts: 64 Member
    If it goes in your mouth, then count it.
  • EAH123
    EAH123 Posts: 40
    Anything that I intake I count including fruits and veggies. I also count if I cook, saute, bake, roast, ect. I wouldn't see it as punishment; I'd just be honest about intake. Most, in moderation, aren't that bad in calories.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    Whoaa....there's a whole lot of food psychology going on in that statement. Let me break it down easy for you - IF YOU BITE IT YOU WRITE IT. It is all calories consumed so it counts!!!
  • islandnutshel
    islandnutshel Posts: 1,143 Member
    I include them because they do add up and I also want the nutrients to show up on my diet. I always try to get more iron and calcium from my food, but I mostly have to suppliment because on 1200 + exercise calories it is hard to get all daily nutrients.
  • n8na
    n8na Posts: 76 Member
    I log in every calorie I eat. Otherwise it would be like cheating for me. Especially fruit has a lot of calories too.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    Well -- I've eaten ~350 calories of vegetables today. If I didn't count them, I'd be thinking I was a lot more under calories than I am :P
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Fruit is sugar. Write it down.
  • parliskim
    parliskim Posts: 14
    I count everything. Then I have a black and white account for what I ate that day.
  • RedWeb
    RedWeb Posts: 108 Member
    MFP is a food diary. Veg and fruit is food. QED it goes in the diary.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    Part of the reason for using the site is to learn what foods fit in your life and what foods do not. Vegetables and fruits come with nutrients you'd struggle to get anywhere else.

    Personally, I count them, because I also track nutrients. So the few calories they take up are well worth it in watching the nutrient counts climb so fast.

    Don't see it as a penalty - this is different from Weight Watchers, this site actually wants you to learn about FOOD, not just mystic numbers called "Points" that they've patented and want to keep charging you for. And the only person benefiting from the diary is YOU.
  • britachu
    britachu Posts: 157
    I count everything I eat -- especially if you eat quite a few fruits and veggies, the calories can add up. I had a salad for lunch, which had 100 of the calories came from the veggies, and another 38 from my peach. If you eat veggies or fruits at every meal, it could be a 2-300 calories difference (or more) at the end of the day.
  • vrutwind
    vrutwind Posts: 25
    I log them. There are no such things as free calories if you are calorie counting. I eat a lot of fruits and veggies, so if I didn't count them my log would look like I was living off egg whites and almond butter!
  • saxmaniac
    saxmaniac Posts: 1,133 Member
    Vegetables and fruits do have calories, so don't fool yourself. Today I've eaten 124 calories in fruits and vegetables so far, and it isn't even dinner yet. I probably hit 200-300 most days, and that's quite a bit to be over by. I was a bit shocked when I started tracking things like ketchup, steak sauce... all those little things add up!

    You can log them and account for them exactly. Or, you can reduce your calorie goal to build in an approximate cushion, and eat about the same amount daily. But just don't be fooled that they're "free". Nothing is.
  • LifeOnMars_
    LifeOnMars_ Posts: 720 Member
    If it goes in your mouth count it. :)
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    I personally do becuase fruit is alot higher than most veggies... I mean corn, carrots, etc. are higher than lettuce.
    But an average apple, orange is 50 cals, a banana is 100 cals, etc. If you ate just the 3 of those in 1 day and didn't count it you would be over by 200 cals.

    I don't stress too much about measuring lettuce, lol, but I definately count all of them.

    That's just me. Good luck!
  • cornitcher74
    cornitcher74 Posts: 3 Member
    You should count everything in case you do not get the desired results you can figure out how to tweak your intake. Fruits are better than chips but they are also carbs.
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
    Yes.

    This is one of the major flaws of WW to give people "free" foods. Good for being healthy, bad for scientific weight loss.

    Fruits and veggies have calories. Too many calories = gaining weight.
  • morgansmom02
    morgansmom02 Posts: 1,131 Member
    If it goes in your mouth, then count it.


    Welllll.......
  • pinthin87
    pinthin87 Posts: 296 Member
    I've done WW before too and it didn't help me lose any weight because of freebies. I log everything on here including things I know don't have calories like green tea. It just holds me accountable for the things that I eat whether it is 3 calories or 300 calories. Depends on what you want to gain from using MFP.
  • LifeOnMars_
    LifeOnMars_ Posts: 720 Member
    If it goes in your mouth, then count it.


    Welllll.......

    lol...
  • ladyfingers39
    ladyfingers39 Posts: 335
    Why do you keep using the word punishment? That's silly. Up your cals if your not giving yourself enough to include veggies and fruit.
  • fatboypup
    fatboypup Posts: 1,873 Member
    nothing is free except water ...... like WW's used to say if you bite it write it :)
  • cindiva65
    cindiva65 Posts: 335 Member
    Im a recent WW convert. I log everything, including fruit and veggies. WW had a allotment of calories for these items already in their calculation of daily points which is why they let us not count them. When counting calories we count everything.

    I ran my WW etools and MFP for a couple weeks before dropping WW to see how close they matched up. It seemed to be pretty close for me so I decided to quit WW (which was a great plan, no knocking it...dropped 20 lbs on it) but since MFP is free Im saving about $20 a month in dues.

    Good luck and this really does work. Basically same principal as WW....log in your food and be accountable for it. :flowerforyou:
  • LizzieBee17
    LizzieBee17 Posts: 123 Member
    If it goes in your mouth count it. :)


    Anything can make you fat if you eat enough of it.

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