Chocolate Top-ups?

I eat healthily every day, but after dinner (my final meal) I find I am usually about 200 calories away from my calorie target.

My question is; is it OK to fill up those last few calories with some unhealthy snacks like chocolate or crisps (Chips)?

I read on someone’s post a while back that a calorie is a calorie, doesn’t really matter where it comes from.

The problem is that after my meals I’m full (not stuffed) and I don’t want any more food, but I, being a woman, have always room for some chocolate!

Any thoughts?

Lets look at this way.  If you don't eat the chocolate even though you have the room in your daily calories, it is going to become a forbidden food.  Once you make chocolate forbidden, you are going to crave it more and it is more likely that once you do start eating some, you will go overboard.

I don't treat this as a diet so much as a lifestyle change and as part of that change I try to eat healthier.  That said, no food is inherently bad as long as it is eaten in moderation.  I love having a cup of cocoa at the end of the day, yummy chocolate and only 80 calories.

There is nothing wrong with allowing yourself a treat at the end of the day as long as it doesn't put you over your target.

I wouldn't classify chocolate as an unhealthy snack. Although I guess it depends on the "chocolate" some people think Twix is "chocolate". I as a self proclaimed chocolate, and cheese, snob think that if the first ingredient is sugar it is not a chocolate. It should be cocoa butter. I also don't think milk chocolate is chocolate.

UD

Hi,

Thanks for posting.

I don’t really have a problem with cravings, like I said in my original post, I eat healthily (lots of fruit and veg) and I feel full and happy. But I am afraid of putting my body into starvation mode.

My daily calorie goal is 1360 (as calculated by CC) and after eating my fill I usually end up just over 1000 cal. which of course is way too low. I am happy with what I’m eating today, it fills me up, it’s healthy, it tastes, looks and smells great!

So if the end of the day snack is not a good idea because of the calories being empty and what not (I have no trouble controlling the amount) I would have to change my whole diet (again) and would rather not, now that I have gotten into a good routine. =)

So the question is: If the diet is generally healthy, getting all the nutrients I need, does it matter that some of the calories (on a daily basis) does not come from broccoli, or do I have to start doubling my portions from “5” to “10-a-day” to reach the daily calorie goal?

Perfectly ok in my opinion. Food exists not only to be nutritious, but also to be enjoyed. If you want justification for eating chocolate I found an article that it's good for your teeth, and I am sure wiki has stuff on it's benefits also. lol

UD

I'm going to differ slightly.   Whilst I think it's good to have occasional not-quite-so-healthy foods like chocolate or crisps etc I think, when you're on very reduced calories, it's important that 90% of those calories are coming from nutritious foods on a regular basis.   So if out of the 1360 cals you're getting 130 or 140 from 'fun foods' that's not a bad average.  If you're only getting 1000 cals of good foods I'd say the balance was wrong and you'd need to plan ahead a little better.

You wouldn't have to double portions... just add a few extras like a teaspoon of olive oil here and there (40 cals) or an ounce of raisins (85) or an ounce of cheese grated on a salad (115).  An extra ounce of pasta or porridge oats going into the pot is 100 cals.  And you could still have a little chocolate occasionally, of course.  If you work this out in advance you can see where you're coming up short and make adjustments.

I'm with gi-jane on this.  10% of your calories (or more, since you're talking about almost 25%) from stuff like chocolate is too many "empty" calories, IMHO.  Have some fruit or something, or some cottage cheese, or regular cheese, or whatever.

Clint

I don't think chocolate is "empty" calories. The 72% or bitter sweet has some good fats, protein, anti oxidants, etc.

UD

You've got your opinion, I've got mine... There's nothing wrong with a piece of chocolate; I have 20g of dark chocolate frequently.  But topping up from "just over 1000 calories" to her recommended amount of 1360 is too much (in my opinion).  Same goes for chips or other forms of "junk food".  With that few calories in a day, it's even more important to get as much nutritional value out of them as you can.

A calorie may be a calorie with regards to weight loss, but they're not all the same with regards to healthy eating.  Otherwise why not just do a 100% chocolate diet?  After all, 1300 calories of chocolate is the same as 1300 calories of a balanced diet, right?

Clint

Taking what I said just a little bit to the extreme?

UD

Original Post by umneydurak:

Taking what I said just a little bit to the extreme?

UD

Hi Blue Masteress!

I think it's totally fine to top up your calories with chocolate! Maybe not every single day, but sometimes is surely fine! 10-15% of your daily calorie intake could be "junk" for example as long as the rest is good food.

I have chocolate every once in a while (at least 2-3 times a week) and I love it, I enjoy it. And still I am losing 1-2 lb per week. So no need to worry!

I rather am happy and a little less healthy than 100 % healthy but unhappy!

Original Post by pbear999:

Most likely. Sorry. Clint

No problem. Although I bet I can make tons of money by turning it in to the new diet. I can see it now "Eat all the chocolate you want (provided by me), and loose pounds in days!". Ha ha. It can probably can actually work too. The 72% dark chocolate is very satisfying because it has high fat contest, so people would actually eat less in the end. lol

UD

Hi all,

Thanks for posting, I got my answer.

And umneydurak, sign me up for that diet of yours once it's ready. Yum yum.