I am only 1 week in to counting calories and had a cup of grapes today which to my surprise was 100 calories. I haven't been counting calories for vegetables (lettuce, tomatoes, onions, asparagus etc). Should I count vegetable calories too?
Yes, you definitely should, otherwise you are not getting an accurate count of what you're eating.
For example, say you're aiming for 1500 calories in order to eat at a deficit, and you eat 1500 calories of other foods.
But you also have an apple as a morning snack, a small salad with your lunch, a cup of broccoli and a serving of corn with dinner, and then after dinner as a treat you have some strawberries.
Apple = 80 cal.
Small side salad = 25 cal without dressing
1 c. steamed or raw broccoli = 30 cal.
2/3 c. corn = 100 cal.
1 c. strawberries = 75 cal.
That's about 300 extra calories you consumed in fruit and vegetables alone, taking your calorie count for the day from 1500 to 1800. When you're first starting out, that little difference may only slow you down slightly, but eventually not being accurate about your intake will lead to a stall.
I used to not count my fruits & veggies, mostly fruit lol, but now I try to count everything, though a few pieces will be forgotten here and there. I think it is more important to count fruit when you're going through a plateau than if you're losing weight steadily, the fiber in fruit really helps w/the weight loss process.
I definitely count fruit and vegetables. Fruit, especially, can really add up! I count everything. Even Splenda which is like 3.5 calories per packet not actually zero! Basically, the only things I don't count are vitamins and supplements (like cod liver oil which are like 15 calories per capsule) and sugar free gum, which can be like 5 calories a piece.
I count everything too. I used to skip what I thought were small quantities of things but yes, they do add up. I'd add a "splash" of cream to a soup or an extra "dash" of sugar to my coffee and never count those. I read about negative calories years ago, especially veggies, but to me there are no negative calories during weight loss.
I count everything. Granted 250 calories in a couple of ears of corn is better than 250 calories of Doritos, calories are still calories no matter the makeup.
You don't have to count calories of celery though, it's actually a negative calorie food.
I count everything. Granted 250 calories in a couple of ears of corn is better than 250 calories of Doritos, calories are still calories no matter the makeup.
You don't have to count calories of celery though, it's actually a negative calorie food.
There is no such thing as a negative calorie food.
I didn't realize we had to be exactly scientific with studies and articles and research. Regardless, OP will certainly be ok not counting her celery calories as they are so low and her body will still have to work to digest them. I didn't tell her to go on a negative calorie diet.
I just remembered why I left this site the last time with less than 2 hours of posting.
I always count fruit and carby veggies, the water based veggies, not so much (lettuce, celery, cucumbers) as I can get a little obsessive number obsessive otherwise.
If it's working for you not counting them, stick with what you're doing for now and re-evaluate your plan down the road
I didn't realize we had to be exactly scientific with studies and articles and research. Regardless, OP will certainly be ok not counting her celery calories as they are so low and her body will still have to work to digest them. I didn't tell her to go on a negative calorie diet.
I just remembered why I left this site the last time with less than 2 hours of posting.
Most people appreciate accuracy. After all, inaccurate ideas about diet are what got a lot of us into the situations that we are in. And consulting the evidence is far, far better than the alternative.
As for the OP - I can see not counting green/leafy veg. They are truly low, low calorie. But fruit can rack up, as can starchy veg like corn, potatoes, etc. So if you don't want to be bothered with counting green veg calories, don't eat all the way up to your daily allowance with other foods.
Do you count calories of vegetables and fruit?
