Quote:
Originally Posted by doxigirl
The selection of foods with "0" points seems a bit unsettling. I feel like I am cheating when I eat fruit and my tracker does not add any points.
Could this really be too good to be true?  |
Welcome!
Most fruits and vegetables are, in fact, Zero Points. However, this comes with a "but"! There are regulations that come along with Zero Point fruits and vegetables.
Keep the GHG (Good Health Guidelines) in mind when eating fruits and vegetables. Most members are able to eat 5-8 servings a day healthfully.
Servings matter. A banana might be Zero Points, but they're big enough that they count as TWO SERVINGS of fruit.
DRIED fruits, and cooked fruits do not count as "zero points". The composition of the food has changed and is no longer a raw fruit. If you're ever in doubt, just look it up in the database.
Keep in mind that it's recommended that most of your daily fruit & vegetable servings come from vegetables. (As an example: 3 out of 5 on a regular basis would be vegetables.)
You might be able to fit 2-3 servings of fruit into your meal plan on a normal day, but it'll take a couple weeks to figure out how many you're able to handle personally. Some people can eat more, some just 1-2. It's flexible, but it does take a little time to see patterns.
Overall, I find it to be a very positive thing. It encourages me to get in more vegetable and fruit servings, and I don't have to stress about the Points. Having an apple, or some baby carrots as a snack is one of my favorite things to do. Not to mention how wonderful it is to bulk up my meals without worrying about adding extra points.
So, no, we cannot gorge ourselves. But, yes, we can enjoy an orange (instead of picking up crackers or cookies!) without worry.
