To be surprised at how many calories are in vegetables?

[PinkOnWednesday]

I've recently started calorie counting and logging everything and it's honestly surprised me how many calories they have- around 40 for 100g carrots which isn't particularly loads, 70 for 80g peas, although I know peas are the most carby vegetable. Of course it's less than the equivalent pasta or chicken, however it's still quite considerable when your dinner can only be 400 calories. Anyone else discovered this?

[DerekSprechenZeDick]

No. I honestly don't understand calories and do not wish to count them

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

I have-it's not a massive surprise with the sweeter ones but still a bit when you see how little you can have! Are you using myfitnesspal?

[scarednoob]

Generally if they grow below the ground they are higher in carbs and calories - shame as those are definitely the tastier ones!

[scarednoob]

Now come on derek - did you ever meet a calorie you didn't like?

(Apart from the 26 miserable ones that hide in things like sprouts)

[FleurThomas]

You won't consume them all though. The total calories for peas may be x amount but because most of it is undigestible/roughage you will poo out a large percentage. That's why it's possible to lose weight on unlimited veg diets. Fruit, however, should he controlled because it's mostly sugar.

[absolutelynotfabulous]

Yes; this is why I can't understand why, on some eating regimes, vegetables are unlimited.

Boring as heck, too, except for peas and sweet corn which are, inevitably, quite calorific.

400 cals is quite low for a dinner, though, especially a main meal one.

What diet are you doing?

[Oblomov16]

It's not surprisingly when you really think about it.

things like potatoes are very starchy, even sweet potatoes and also parsnips which are quite sweet.

all the sweet ones : carrots and peas and they are higher in carbs whereas things like cabbage and kale are not.

all the root vegetables are higher calories, higher carbs and the sweeter they are the higher too.

when you sit and think about that, it does actually make sense, but we've just never really kind of thought about it much before.

[absolutelynotfabulous]

X-posted with fleur.

I still count my veg calories though. Apparently the "pooing out" theory is also true of nuts.

[PinkOnWednesday]

Derek I wish I didn't have to count them either
Champagne Yes I agree, it makes sense when you think about it but it's a bit of a shock when you've spend your life thinking of chocolate and wine as being calorific but vegetables being good for you. And yes, I'm using My Fitness Pal, was on 1200 to lose two pounds a week, but have increased to losing 1 pound a week so I'm on 1320, as 1200 does not feel enough
scared Yes, parsnips and carrots are rather lovely, especially roasted. I'm not so keen on broccoli and courgette, sadly
Fleur Yeah, that would make sense but I'm so desperate to lose weight, I'm a little reluctant not to count them all. The thing about fruit definitely makes sense, was expecting that to be fairly high calorie
absolutely I'm on my fitness pal, 1320 calories, I tend to skip the 'carby' part of dinner, so it's okay but the veg take up a fair amount of 400 calories, especially as I try to fill up on them

[PinkOnWednesday]

Oblomov Yeah, I was expecting potato and parsnip to be high calorie, and I guess carrots and peas are fairly similar in terms of carbs so I'm not sure why I'm so surprised [sceptical]

[PinkOnWednesday]

oops that should be

[Longlost10]

well, this is where plants store sugar, so of course they have calories

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

I'm on 1200 a day too but often go over to 1300-it's bloody hard sticking to 1200

There's a subreddit /r/1200isplenty which is pretty helpful!

[GreatFuckability]

I do not wish to belong to world where I must limit my intake of peas.

[PinkOnWednesday]

Champagne ooh I'll have a look at that, thank-you

[Atenco]

but it's a bit of a shock when you've spend your life thinking of chocolate and wine as being calorific but vegetables being good for you

So you think that vegetables aren't good for you because they have calories?

[vulgarbunting]

But isn't it joyful when you realise how few calories there are in things like bacon?!

Diets should allow for unlimited bacon, not unlimited veg IMO.

[MargaretCavendish]

I periodically give MyFitnessPal a go, but always have to set it to half a pound a week: I actually cannot function on 1200 calories a day. I actually think the single biggest virtue of doing it (for me) is that it 'forces' me to exercise as without those extra calories you cannot eat anything nice ever.

[PinkOnWednesday]

Atenco noo, I still definitely agree vegetables are fab for you and I'll continue to eat plenty of them I guess I always just associated as something healthy as being low calorie, however I'm starting to discover this is not the case
vulgar I agree, could definitely go for an unlimited bacon diet
margaret yes, 1200 does feel rather low, should probably get back to hitting the gym again then maybe I wouldn't need to moan about the calories in a carrot

[Qwebec]

Corn does not count as a vegetable, it is a grain like rice and wheat. Also not all calories are the same, processed and refined foods are much more easily digestible than whole food. That's why calories are a bit like BMI, it gives you clues, but you still have to look at the whole picture.

[FleurThomas]

Sorry should have added I lost 4 stones with an unlimited veg diet. Didn't count any calories. Used the plate guide and filled up with protein and veg only with only pure fats. I also weight trained.

[Scentofwater]

Just check out the calories in avocado!

Most veg is ok though, you're unlikely to eat so much that it's what is putting you over the target. What will do that is the oil you fry them in!

[Coulddowithanap]

There's me being surprised how few calories are in a plate of veg. (Also doing my fitness pal along with following the principles of slimming world by only having a small treat a day and not limiting veg, fruit, chicken, fish etc)

[Stevefromstevenage]

It has been said up thread but the calories from vegetables are not all available. The human body cannot fully breakdown most vegetables because of the fibre content so 70kcals of a veg in likely to be equivalent to 70kcals of chocolate which is completely digestible.

[acasualobserver]

If vegetables didn't contain a fair few calories all the vegans would die.