Do you count fruits/vegetables? - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

x0me880x · 12-20-2008, 02:33 AM

Do you count fruits and vegetables? I personally have not been but maybe I should be. When I count how many calories I eat in a day, it doesnt seem like enough, but through the day I eat so many fruits and vegetables. I'm not going to just eat food to get the calories when I'm not hungry, just because I do not know of a number to put on an apple or some broccoli.

Another quick question, is it true that when dieting you can pretty much eat as much vegetables and fruit as you want? Or can you seriously overeat it?

FB · 12-20-2008, 02:45 AM

You can overeat anything!

Yes, I count fruits and veggies. They easily account for 25% of my day's calories. I count everything, every bite, every taste - veggie or not. If finding accurate counts are difficult for you consider investing in a food scale (pretty inexpensive) if you already haven't.

x0me880x · 12-20-2008, 02:47 AM

Where can I find out how many calories are in fruits and veggies? Is there a site?

FB · 12-20-2008, 02:49 AM

I use http://thedailyplate.com which is super easy for beginning calorie counters. I used to use Fitday, which you'll see mentioned here often - but found it to be too time consuming.

x0me880x · 12-20-2008, 02:54 AM

Thanks! The site is very helpful.

ronni62 · 12-20-2008, 11:13 AM

Like FB, I count the calories for every bite of everything I put in my mouth. I found a CalorieKing book at the local bookstore and they also have a website that has counts for almost everything you could possibly eat! 3fc also has counts for foods. the link is up in the questions at the top of the CC page. Best wishes!

Shannon in ATL · 12-20-2008, 11:17 AM

I count fruits and vegetables, yes. I also use The Daily Plate, and sometimes cross reference to www.nutritiondata.com. I like 100g serving info to put into my recipes because it is easy to work with, and ND has that as an option for almost everything.

Lori259 · 12-20-2008, 11:56 AM

I agree with the others~I count everything also.always count everything~that way you know exactly how much you are eating a day.
I use www.caloriescount.com (click on box on upper left corner when U get there that says height age weight ect weight management calculator~they are not taking new members but You can use there calculators for free.)This will help you know the reasonable amount of calories for you age/height & current weight to eat and still lose weight or even maintain current weight.GOOD LUCK

fiberlover · 12-20-2008, 01:54 PM

I count fruits and veggies. I don't worry as much about veggies, but in any given day I will have several clementines, a cup of blueberries, applesauce or a banana - which can easily be 200 calories. That stuff counts.
I don't eat as many veggies, but I do count those. 1 cup of broccoli has about 30 calories, for example. About half of what a serving of fruit is.

PhotoChick · 12-20-2008, 02:56 PM

Absolutely I count fruits and veggies. Especially fruit, which has more calories than veggies.

I eat probably 500 calories in fruits and veggies per day. If I didn't count those, then there's no way I'd be losing.

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chick_in_the_hat · 12-20-2008, 03:08 PM

I eat a lot of fruits and veggies - so I do count them. That being said - I'm not nearly as careful at measuring veggies than everything else. Fruit adds up faster.

wantingtolose · 12-20-2008, 03:15 PM

Sometimes i do, sometimes i don't. For example, i won't count lettuce and tomato on a sandwich, but i will count if i have a side salad. I don't count if i have 5 grapes, but will count a grapefruit. I always count avocado, and apples, but not if i just add a couple slices of green pepper to something.
It works for me, i won't get so obsessed that i'm counting a tbsp. of diced tomatoes, but i do count if i have a lot more.

rockinrobin · 12-20-2008, 05:46 PM

I'm a calorie counter, so therefore if I eat it, I - count it. The only exception is spices. No need to count those.

My day is made up of many, many fruits and veggies. Like Photo, eating 500 calories worth is the norm for me. Many days I consume even more then that. If I didn't count them. Oh gosh, let me not even go there.

I too though am not as exact with the vegetables and portion sizes. The difference between a cup and a cup and a quarter of cauliflower is not that much of a difference, so I'll just eyeball that. Fruit is much more caloric and I need to be more exact with that. Though I don't weigh my apples, I just usually count them as 100 calories. I do try to pick the smallest ones though for that very reason. Maybe this time it'll really be 110 calories, but the next it may be 90, so it all evens out.

Thighs Be Gone · 12-20-2008, 05:49 PM

I count everything--all fruits and veggies, a sip of my daughters hot chocolote, a sample at the Farmer's Market. If it goes in my mouth, it's in my journal.

F & V wise today, I have eaten:

3 clementines-75
1 banana-100
1 apple-100
two cups of cole slaw--raw--with celery, and onion--75

So, if I didn't count those I would show 350 calorie deficit and probably allow myself more food than I should. It adds up quickly!

PhotoChick · 12-20-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

I too though am not as exact with the vegetables and portion sizes. The difference between a cup and a cup and a quarter of cauliflower is not that much of a difference, so I'll just eyeball that. Fruit is much more caloric and I need to be more exact with that. Though I don't weigh my apples, I just usually count them as 100 calories. I do try to pick the smallest ones though for that very reason. Maybe this time it'll really be 110 calories, but the next it may be 90, so it all evens out.

Exactly!

While I get the concept of not counting veggies - to encourage you to eat more of them - you do have to be aware of how much you're eating in a general way. It *is* possible to overeat fruit and veg.

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