Shouldn't vegetables be counted in too?

I recently went to my dietician, and she told me that it is unnecessary for me to calculate the calories that are in vegetables (aside from potatos, yams, etc.)  I'm eating about 3000 calories a day (she and my parents want me to gain about 4 lbs. to get my periods again). I was just wondering if other people, in a similar situation, count vegetable calories.  

I can see why they'd say that - the same reason that most vegetables are "free" under the Weight Watchers points program (as I understand it).  Most veggies, such as cauliflower and broccoli to name a couple, are very rich in vitamins and minerals and very low in calories - a cup of cooked broccoli has something like 50 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and is high in about a dozen different nutrients.  It's the butter you put on top that's got all the calories in it.  :-)

Basically, veggies are full of vitamins, full of fiber, and low in calories.

Is it because she doesn't want you to be too obsessed with counting every calorie?  Have you maybe been eating low calorie foods in an effort to not gain?  If you are needing to gain, follow what the nutritionist says.  Congratulations for getting professional help far beyond what we can help you with.

A lot of veggies are full in fiber as stated above, and also take more calories to burn than they actually provide you with. Veggies are full of nutrition that you should be definitely be eating. Don't worry about counting the calories unless you plan on sitting down and eating stalks and stalks of broccoli, and many ears of corn all in one sitting. Eating your daily amount of veggies shouldn't do you any harm. Plus you're trying to gain a bit, so don't worry about it! Enjoy your veggies.

Original Post by clairelaine:

Is it because she doesn't want you to be too obsessed with counting every calorie?  Have you maybe been eating low calorie foods in an effort to not gain?  If you are needing to gain, follow what the nutritionist says.  Congratulations for getting professional help far beyond what we can help you with.

 

yea i think they dont want you to count it because of the obsession, &because its virtually cal-free. what the point of counting it when your trying to gain?

Most veggies actually burn as much calories as they give to you. I'd dare to bet that eating a serving of raw carrots might actually BURN more calories than it gives you. Celery is famous for that one, because it has so much fibers in it. You chew and chew and it has like 5 calories in it. So it's pointless to count it in.