Ok so rule of PointsPlus 1 serving of fruit = 0 PointsPlus
But if you blend it or add it into a recipe you are suppose to count it. Well what do you think? Here is what I think....
My breakfast this morning got me thinking about this today. I know a friend had a leader who swears that the fruit when mixed or blended changes & you must add points. I say no way...I'm not counting a half of banana & 3 frozen strawberries in my green monster smoothie! No way, no how! Oh and for the record I do not count the fruit I add into salads when I make them either! :P
Green Monster Smoothie
2 PointsPlus :)
1 C unsweetened almond breeze
1 BIG handful fresh organic spinach
1 scoop protein powder (mine is 1 PP a scoop)
3 frozen strawberries
1/2 frozen banana
So what do you think? Do you count the fruit when you add it to a smoothie or add it to a salad or meal?
Tell me what you think! :)
BYE!
I am on a different program, but I do count the fruit that I put in my smoothies.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand what the difference is - does chopping or mashing or blending fruit change the calorie/carb count??? Um, no. So I wouldn't count it either!
ReplyDeleteWell technically you would only be adding 1 points+.
ReplyDeleteMy personal opinion on this is that it depends. If I am making say an apple, pie, I count it as part of the recipe.
If I am adding it to a salad and/eating it straight up, I don't count it.
I do think that juice should count because it's not as filling as a whole fruit when you eat the equivalent.
If you can lose weight without counting it, then, I say - why count it.
That being said, if you find you abuse the fruit and add say 2 bananas, 1 orange, 1 c strawberries, etc and find that you are not losing weight, then, yes, those calories do add up.
I know WW logic is that you really change how satisfying it is when it's blended and reduce the fiber, etc.
However, for those like me who like it to be black & white, not grey....I honestly WISH WW would be consistent on how they address the whole fruit/veggie thing. IMO it's either points+ or it's 0 points+ but it shouldn't be a "it depends".
Not sure that helps :)
I am on the WW points plus program, too. I do not count whole fruit in my smoothies. When I put them in the recipe builder I was surprised that it DID count them, and I still don't understand the "why" of this. I think Danica has it, if you feel your weight loss is slowed, them maybe start counting them, if not then keep eating yummy healthy fruit! It's good for you! :)
ReplyDeleteI am doing PointsPlus online. I'm totally loose with fruits -- up to three a day. I don't think I've ever gone over three a day. But if I did, I would count it. If I have fruit in a recipe, like a banana cake that I make, I just let the recipe builder do it's thing and count the fruit.
ReplyDeleteIf I were making your smoothie, I'd do it the way you do it, cuz it's not that much fruit.
wow. didn't know. I have always counted it as free. what kind of pp do you use? your smoothie sounds yummy
ReplyDeleteI think if you're happy with what you lose not counting the fruit, then that will work for you. I think if you're not happy with your weight loss, and you're doing everything else correctly, maybe start counting it and see if that helps.
ReplyDeleteRoni had a good post about this awhile back, you should look it up -- lots of good comments!!
ReplyDeleteI think the logic is, as Danica said, that fruit in a smoothie or in juice is not as SATISFYING as it is whole -- mentally OR physically. Think about it, your body is gonna digest that fruit a LOT faster, since the blender has already done half the work for you. LOL
I'm counting calories these days, rather than points, so I do like that there's less grey area. But when I was counting points I definitely did not count my smoothie fruit. Only if it gets to be a problem, I say.
I could see counting it if you blended in a whole bag of fruit... I thought the free fruit thing was the big selling point of the new program.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, this is quite the debatable issue isn't it?! I think it's silly that WW goes and makes fruit free and then they say, oh wait, you have to count it, but only sometimes.
ReplyDeleteFor your green monster, I would NOT count the fruit either.
But I will admit I will count it if I have more than one serving of fruit all at once. For example, if I make a fruit salad and put in one cup EACH of grapes, strawberry, watermelon and banana. I would probably count it for a few points. I mean I just ate four servings of fruit all in one go. All that natural sugar adds up!
I find this discussion interesting...I was reading in "Cooking Light" this same thing...and how when Weight Watchers revamped the plan (to PointsPlus) in November, that the theory behind it was so that for someone that is super points plus conscious, one might make the decision to pick up a banana or eat some veggies in lieu of picking up a 100-Calorie pack (more bang for the proverbial PointsPlus buck). However, the author of the article was quick to note that all foods contain calories...so that nothing is really free. I guess that it's really in the eye of the beholder...I mean, Tracker...:)
ReplyDeleteInteresting thoughts...and I believe that Danica, with her infinite wisdom, was totally correct in her assessment of the situation.
I've never heard of that before. I eat fruit in salads or smoothies, and I sure as hell ain't about to start countin it! I will be sure to ask my leader about that.
ReplyDeletecant really chime in on the debate but I DO DO love me some green monsters (and enhanced boobage :) are we still on that at all?)
ReplyDeleteMizFit
I have never heard of this rule, and I don't count fruit at all. And I have a lot of it.
ReplyDeleteWhere in the materials does it say that fruit needs to be counted *ever*? Is it only online?
ReplyDeleteI've never heard this said in the meetings or in my printed material.
Maybe I didn't read it all!
I don't count any fruit that I eat, and I didn't realize that I should be!
I count fruit all the time! I could eat so much fruit that I would never lose weight....just gain. So, to be safe, I count fruits. I know WW says I don't have to.... but I know me better than they do. So, if you tend to eat a lot of fruit.........count 'em!
ReplyDeleteThis debate is ongoing in my meetings. Our leader's take is EXACTLY like Danicas. In recipes, count it, on its own...free. BUT...she cautioned to watch portions closely, because that can really add up. As long as you're losing, you are doing it right!
ReplyDeleteI have mulling a blog post on this very topic! I've asked three different WW leaders about the 0-point fruit policy and gotten three different responses:
ReplyDelete1. All fruit is 0 points unless it's juiced or dried.
2. All fruit is 0 points unless it's juiced or dried. However, once you have checked off all 5 of your fruit & veggies boxes on the track for the day, then you should start counting points for it.
3. Only whole fruit is 0 points. If you mix it, blend it, juice it, etc., then you must count points for it.
Ok, seriously. If the leaders can't give a consistent answer, how are the members ever supposed to know what's the proper way to count our fruit? Personally, I've been following option 1 and haven't had any issues with stalled weight loss. If and/or when I do, I'll revisit how I handle it and perhaps switch to option 2 instead.
My leader said that you do NOT count fruit that is fresh. NO matter if it is blended or just eaten. It was to be fresh
ReplyDeleteI say do what works until it doesn't work for you anymore.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be such a mystery for WW I don't know why they don't make a rule about it and inform the WW leaders.
i actually wrote to WW about this very issue. they said that making it zero points in it's raw form is to encourage snacking on fruit rather than something else. when you put it in a recipe, it's not "as a snack" so it gets points.
ReplyDeletei can't say i agree entirely with them, but i do love me some fresh fruit for zero points! when you cook a fruit or vegetable, the nutritional value actually DOES change. it doesn't contain as much natural "energy" (if we want to get all hippy-ish here) and a lot of the vitamins and stuff cook out.
So, I can understand why there are points counted in things like "banana bread" or "sauteed spinach". But if you're putting sliced fruit on a salad or spinach in a blender for a shake, you shouldn't count it since it's still in a "raw" form.
Hope that explains it a little! Check out some documentaries like "Food Matters" or "The Gershon Miracle" for more information about the benefits of raw foods.
I never count fruit on points plus, and since it began, I have really upped my servings. Especially this time of year, the fruit is fantastic and I'm enjoying every last piece.
ReplyDeleteThe way I understand it is: your body is like a machine, the more work it has to do to break down the food, the better. Example: A strawberry in a smoohtie is already in liquid form therefore the work has been done by the blender and it will break down in your body easier. Strawberry that is whole or cut up will take longer for your body to process.
ReplyDeleteAnother example is orange juice verses an orange. Your body does not work as hard and therefore it won't satisfy you or provide the same fiber. Does this make sense?
The way I do it is this - one of any fruit is free, on it's own or in a recipe. The banana in my oatmeal has nutritional properties, and keeps me from sweetening the oatmeal with a bunch of sugar or honey. It's free. UNLESS I've already had a banana. If it's the second one of the day, I add it to the recipe builder...
ReplyDeleteAs it was explained to me, the recipe builder isn't 'smart', and just registers the nutritional facts of whatever you add. It can't tell the difference between butter or spinach or an apple. But I can. So I don't add what it(in my opinion) shouldn't dock my points for. Because if my six point+ oatmeal (oats=4, milk = 1, peanut flour=1, banana = 0)is really 9 points+, than I'd rather add 1 1/2 tbls of chocolate chips instead of the banana to make it super yummy, and then have a free banana by itself later. lol
Interesting! I thought fruits however used weren't counted. I do see what people are saying about the body burning more calories when it had to digest an apple instead of an apple blended up in a smoothie...but then again now that I'm reconsidering it, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense in my mind.
ReplyDeleteYup...this is a great debate, isn't it? lol
ReplyDeleteI only count it when it is added to a recipe that sort of changes what it was initially, aka...muffins or cobblers. When I add it to salads or smoothies...nope...don't count it. honestly, you would think WW would have some clear guidelines on this matter, wouldn't you? I mean, I know what they say...but still...it's a rather gray area even after they offer up an explanation.
More often than not, I calculate out the nut info and then use that to come up with points+ values. I don't normally do the manual, each ingredient method. But if you are loosing weight, than I say whatever way you do it, is the right way! :)
I get so many comments on my blog about fruit and how I eat too much of it and it's going to make me gain weight. And you know what? I just ignore them. Fruit is good for me and I eat it in moderation. Choosing an apple over a candy bar is a big difference! I do not count the fruits in my smoothies or salads. If I made a pie, I'd probably count them in something like that. I agree with you!
ReplyDeleteI'm not on your program either but I do count fruit... it's usually high in sugar and carbs so it can really mess with a bod. That's MY reason.
ReplyDeleteVee at http://vikkisverandah.blogspot.com/p/cookbook.html (I need healthy recipes, please!)
Free Fruit is free fruit right??? I am curious on what kind of protein powder you use. I would love to find one that is 1 pointsplus for 1 scoop. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI don't count my fruit in my points , I also don't fill up on it either. I just make it part of the whole balance of what I am eating.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting point. Why count when it doesn't event change the points. However, I feel like fruits definitely have nutritional and caloric value, obsviously not the main focus of weight watchers, but it still gives the body energy. I wouldn't count it but I wouldn't abuse the point system and eat more fruit than I can handle.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it counts. What's the difference if you eat strawberries in a dish for 0 points then put them in the blender - why would you have to count points for that?
ReplyDeleteI've struggled with this too. After listening to what people have said over the past several months, I have decided that if it is a "TRUE" recipe (in my mind, this means multiple servings) then I count it. If it's a single serving "thrown together" thing, then I don't count it (i.e., smoothies, fruit in my oatmeal or on my salad). I really don't think WW thought this one through too well when they threw it out there that "fruit is free"! This seems to be the biggest complaint from that I've heard from people doing the new program...
ReplyDeleteThis is news to me!! I don't go to meetings anymore, but I went to the first 2 when the new pts+ started. Nothing was ever said about blending and counting! I won't be doing it either. I don't add that much to salads or smoothies. We were just told not to overdue it on the fruit.
ReplyDeleteThere's a big difference between throwing a few strawberries into a salad or 1/2 a banana into a green smoothie. You can easily drink 5 or more servings of fruit in a smoothie and not be filled up. I believe that is what they are worried about.
ReplyDeletealso they've always said juice had to be counted. If you think about it when fruit is blended it really becomes juice. thick juice but it is juice.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't count fruit in a salad. I don't see that as a recipe.