Take on vegetables as free food?

[MeLo]

While dieting, i found it much much easier to stay on it when i take in a large amount of vegetables, up to probably 1 head of medium-large lettuce(ice berg), though on most days its less.

However, when i checked up the internet, it turned out there is calories in them.

Should i count them to incur the intended calorie deficit? Or should i say fug it because i will probably burn them off chewing them and take the stress off of counting them.

 

[Emma-Leigh]

Personally - I eat a BUCKET load every day and don't really 'count' them.

My general thinking is that, as long as you are getting results - eat as many as you want. Benefits outweigh any possible calorie effect...

If your results stall - take a look at your TOTAL diet... If your other levels are appropriate and your training is also appropriate then take a look at your vegetable intake...

Sure they have calories - but we are talking 10-30 calories a cup (depending on the vegetable)... So it is hardly going to break the bank! 3.5 oz of broccoli is only about 30-35 cals so you could eat 14 oz of the stuff and it would only be eating 120-140 cals - and, as you say, most of that would be lost in the digestion process...

Sure - excessive intake may cause intestinal bloat and discomfort... and COULD (if it good REALLY excessive) possibly impact if you were really low calorie or if you were preparing for a competition... But otherwise just leave it.

You could also give them a 'calorie allocation' each day without really counting them. For example - if you are aiming for 2500 cals then get 2400 cals of 'other' foods and leave that extra 100 cals as 'vege calories'... Then you just eat as many vegetables as you want and they will be somewhat 'accounted for' in your diet.

 

[Tropicalgirlxx]

exactly what emma said!!

 

[Gordo]

To be able to pack away 14 oz of broccoli is no small feat. Ditto on celery, there comes a point where you simply can't make room for the stuff.

Carrots are a little denser, calorie-wise....but oh so tasty