Why Measuring Veggies is a Waste of Time

Let’s be honest: if you’re logging every gram of spinach and every carrot stick you eat… it might be time to relax.

That's a great way to burn yourself out and make it so you dread counting calories.

Fat loss takes discipline, but it also takes common sense.

And spending 5 minutes figuring out how many grams of broccoli you ate isn’t just unnecessary, it's a waste of time.

In fact, it will likely make your diet harder to stick with long-term.

Here's why:

Not All Calories Are Worth Counting

If you’re trying to lose fat, you need to be in a calorie deficit.

That’s non-negotiable.

But here’s the thing: not every calorie you consume matters equally.

Most non-starchy vegetables are so low in calories ,and so high in fiber, that they barely move the needle.

For example:

• 1 entire cup of raw spinach: 7 calories

• 1 medium cucumber: ~30 calories

• 1 cup of cauliflower: ~25 calories

Even if you eat a lot of these, we’re talking 100–150 calories total. 

And here's the secret:

As long as you either always count your veggies OR always don't count your veggies, your weight loss results will be the same.

All that matters is consistency.

Pick one. Either count or don't count.

And for your sanity, I strongly recommend not counting veggies.

Because if you’re still stuck and not losing weight despite tracking, the real problem probably isn’t the broccoli — it’s something else. I break it down in Are You Really Counting Everything? Hidden Calories Might Be Killing Your Progress.

What Does Matter?

If you’re tracking to lose fat, here’s what actually moves the needle:

• Portion sizes of protein, carbs, and fats (meat, rice, oils, nuts, etc.)

• Snacks and calorie-dense extras (sauces, dressings, oils, cheese)

• Liquid calories (juices, alcohol, creamers, etc.)

So please stop trying to perfectly measure every bite of lettuce.

You will just drive yourself insane.

When It Might Make Sense to Track Veggies

There are two scenarios where logging vegetables could be helpful:

1. You're a vegetarian

2. If you’re prepping for a photoshoot, competition, or extremely lean goal.

   • At that level, every calorie counts. But if that’s not you? Skip it.

Practical Takeaway

If it grows above ground, is green, crunchy, and you’re eating it raw or lightly cooked, it’s probably not worth tracking.

This makes your diet simpler, your food log cleaner, and your brain less burnt out.

Instead of obsessing over lettuce grams, focus on:

• Consistent protein intake

• Measured carbs and fats

• Staying in a weekly calorie deficit

Because no one ever failed a fat loss phase from eating too much broccoli.

Or cucumbers.

Or onions.

And the best part? Simplifying like this frees up more room for meals that are actually satisfying — like Guilt-Free French Toast That Still Hits the Spot, which proves you can stay on track and still enjoy real food.

The Bottom Line:

Stop measuring vegetables.

Track the foods that matter, simplify the rest, and stick to your plan.

That’s how you win.

Try going one full week without logging vegetables and see what happens.

Your brain will thank you, and your fat loss won’t suffer one bit.

If your food tracking feels harder than it should… click here if you want help simplifying fat loss.

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