Do you count your veggies?
 

I got a question, do you count calories for your veggies? I understand everything has calories, except water, but sometimes it seems like so little I feel like it's more work for nothing.

I try to, but sometimes I feel like what's the point. Say I have a sandwich and put a leaf of lettuce, a slice of tomato and a slice of onion, I usually add about 10 cals to the total.

I mean if I'm going to eat a whole pound of roasted asparagus, then yes I count them (they're so good!).

Just wondering what the rest of you do.

Sometimes I do. It helps me keep up with my fiber count.

Yes, I do. Mainly because I eat so many darned veggies, in little or big bits throughout the day, that they need to be counted.

My fitday today shows 165 calories worth of veggies today...that's certainly a significant number!

I do it mainly to keep track. Although I'm usually making meals, or roasting them for lunch, or making salads. I've actually made up a generic 'House Salad' in my calorie tracking program, although it may change slightly I don't think it's a big deal.

I looked at yesterday's meals and although I had roasted veg at lunch, a salad, and cauliflower with my dinner.... it totaled 189 calories. That doesn't count the veg in the meat sauce for dinner. In the end, the calories for the vegetables are a small part, but more calories than I thought.

Agree with the above posts for the same reason.

Yes - veggies count. But I don't stress the little things like lettuce on my sandwich or a simple slice of onion.

Lori

Yup I count them! If I didn't my fiber count wouldn't be nearly so high. Plus, I'm just one of those personalities that track everything. I even track coffee and spices. Lol. I guess I'm a bit anal-retentive.

zenor - I'm glad someone else said it (about spices). I may not count them all of the time (ie. tonight I used a little salt, pepper and basil while browning a chicken breast), but when putting in recipes into FitDay I add in all of the spices and seasonings.

I use Calorie king for all my calorie counting and they actually have a slice of onion and how thick of a slice listed. I count spices and my coffee and tea and what i put in it as well. For me I have to count everything or i feel like i am slackin off. I think it keeps you honest as well. I dont know about the rest of you guys but sometimes if I really really really want that hershey's kiss (which btw is right at 25 calories a kiss) I am counting every calorie so I KNOW I can afford it!

Zenor you look awesome btw YOU too Anne! Congrates Ladies!

Oh yeah. I count them and count them and count them and - all day long. Because I eat them and eat them and eat them - all day long. Veggies make up a large portion of my caloric intake.

OMG woman you lost an entire person! YOUR AWESOME!

I count my veggies for the same reason. They add up. I try hard to get in my 5 servings and that is over 100 calories. Plus I like the thought of how much food that 100-150 calories were compared to 100 calories of chips or ice cream.

I count just about everything. There are calories and carbs in celery lol. I don't count spices. I don't count a slice to tomato or a piece of lettuce on a sandwich. One of the reasons I count veggies is that I use fit day to make sure I am getting the required amounts of the four basic food groups in. It is a great way, at a glance, I can see what I still need to eat for the day.

I count veggies but mostly because I like seeing how few calories they have. The asparagus I had with dinner tonight was 7 calories! It's great.
Oh and you people who don't count salads, DO count the dressing!

Definitely - I do it to encourage myself to keep track of everything and not try to leave out that cookie much or carrot munch.

Like mandalinn, I often have around 100 cals. worth of veggies a day. The one baby carrot and the iceberg lettuce (under a half cup, maybe 5 calories) I add to a sandwhich, I don't count ;)

Yeah same here, don't count a slice of lettuce, but definitely carrots, apples, aubergine, zucchini etc if they are in any larger quantities.

Oh, I LOVE asparagus. It's on my menu for tonight - roasted, along with brussel sprouts and green beans. But anyway, according to Fitday.com, a medium spear has 3.68 calories.

I count absolutely everything that goes in my mouth. Otherwise, where do you draw the line about what should count and what doesn't?

Plus, I like to look back at what I've eaten in the past, so if I didn't count veggies, I'd be like "that's weird; I didn't really eat anything at X meal."

I agree with what most people are saying. I count my veggies though I admit I don't measure them out exactly. I figure if I eat a little over a cup and only log a cup it's not a big deal. Also I probably wouldn't worry about logging a piece of lettuce on a sandwich or a slice of tomato.

Thanks everyone. I'm like most of you, and count the portions, but not the leaf of lettuce that goes on the sandwich.

I do eat a lot of veggies, I better keep an eye on them. :)

I didn't know spices had calories! I never added those, like basil, oregano, thyme, etc. I do add calories for condiments like mustard, ketchup, soy sauce, etc.

Good to know these things! :)

yes...i count everything, bcs for myself, i found if i even waivered off counting something, anything, that i would also not count something else...and so on and so on...i know i would start to slack...i do it all....just to keep myself on track...and know exactly what i am putting into my body....bcs every little bit counts and adds up...i use a scale too that keeps track of everything, fibre, fat, protien, calories ofcourse...and so on..but do what feels right for you bcs thats all that matters... Good luck! :)

I also count my veggies for the most part. But when it says 3/4 cup is a serving and I plan on eating 3 servings, I measure the best I can but it's hard to measure "cups" of veggies. But I try and if I'm a little off I don't worry. I am more careful about counting EVERY SINGLE calorie in the fattier things I eat, like cheese.

I eat alot of veggies per day so I count them. But if I've eaten a sandwich or something like that with a slice of tomato or lettuce, I may or may not count it depending on if I remember it or have the time to enter it on daily plate. Plus I don't enter spices and herbs. Definately don't sweat the little things like that!