These calorie comparison pictures will change the way you think about 'good' and 'bad' food

Publish Date
Sunday, 29 July 2018, 11:45AM
Photo / Instagram

Photo / Instagram

When you're trying to be healthy or lose weight, sometimes it knowing what to eat can be hard - especially when you love naughty sweet treats.

But British fitness blogger, Lucy Mountain, wants to change the ideas of what many people label as 'good' and 'bad' food.

Let’s be real, social media is a pretty confusing place to be. Everyday we consume conflicting messages on what we should be eat, and what we should be avoiding.⠀ ⠀ I believe there are certain foods which are generally beneficial for everyone to include in their diet however what you actually eat should come down to you, your body, your health, your goal and your personal preference 💅⠀ ⠀ What one person calls a ‘good food’, another person might call a ‘bad food’. Look beyond the labels and do your own research to figure out what works for you on all levels ⚡️ (And I can confirm I enjoy each of these foods in my diet.)⠀ ⠀ Here’s a few examples of what I mean:⠀ ⠀ Bagel:⠀ - A ‘good’ lunch option for someone who wants to balance out their protein, fat and veggies.⠀ - A ’bad’ option for someone who doesn’t eat carbs. (lol why tho)⠀ ⠀ Nuts:⠀ - A ‘good' snack for someone who wants something natural, nutritious and filling.⠀ - A ‘bad’ snack for someone who wants something high volume and low calorie.⠀ ⠀ Smarties:⠀ - A ‘good’ snack for someone who someone who enjoys sweets, in the context of a balanced diet.⠀ - A ‘bad’ snack for someone who avoids refined sugar.⠀ ⠀ Protein Bar⠀ - A ‘good’ snack for someone who is always on the go.⠀ - A ‘bad’ snack for someone who avoids artificial sweeteners.⠀ ⠀ Cheese⠀ - A ‘good’ food for a vegetarian and trying to boost their protein intake.⠀ - A ‘bad’ food for someone who doesn’t eat dairy.⠀ ⠀ Granola⠀ - A ‘good’ breakfast for someone who just bloody loves granola.⠀ - A ‘bad’ breakfast for someone who struggles with portion control.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Any food in excess is potentially harmful however none of these single foods are ‘good' or ‘bad’. Play the long game and try to look at your diet across the days, weeks and months 🙌⠀ ⠀ #theFFF @thefffeed

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On her Instagram account, Lucy shows how we can actually indulge in our favourite snacks in moderation, and still be within a healthy diet.

She also points out that some foods deemed 'healthy' can actually blow out our calorie count when eaten in excess.

The OG has arrived. Spot the difference 🔍⠀ ⠀ Each side has the same amount of food but the left side has 550 calories less than the right.⠀ ⠀ I know I say the same shit every post but let's get my lil disclaimers out the way first because they're important:⠀ ⠀ 1. I'm v. v. v. aware calories don't necessarily mean 'healthy'.⠀ 2. However if you're looking for weight-loss/gain having an awareness will help.⠀ 3. Each day of food is just an example and not what you should necessarily aim for.⠀ ⠀ So let's talk differences;⠀ - OJ = Reduced Sugar vs 'Normal'⠀ - Porridge Almond Milk = Unsweetened vs Sweetened⠀ - Salad Dressing = Light vs. 'Normal'⠀ - Oil to Bake Potato = Light vs. Olive Oil⠀ - Tuna Mayo = Light vs. 'Normal'⠀ - Beef = 5% fat vs. 12% fat⠀ - Oil to Cook Veg = Light vs. Olive Oil⠀ - Yoghurt = 0% Fage vs. 2% Fage⠀ This is just to show you don't have to necessarily eat less food. Small swaps can make a big difference 🙌 ⠀ (And yes I eat chocolate bars. The kind you get from a newsagents. And still consider myself 'healthy' 💕)⠀ Left side:⠀ ⠀ Breakfast:⠀ - 40g Oats⠀ - 3 Strawberries⠀ + 200ml Unsweetened Almond Milk⠀ + 225ml Reduce Sugar Orange Juice⠀ ⠀ Lunch:⠀ - 1 Potato⠀ - 100g Salad⠀ - 1 tin Tuna⠀ + 15ml Light Caesar Dressing⠀ + Frylight Spray⠀ + 1 tbsp Lighter Light Mayo⠀ ⠀ Dinner:⠀ - 125g Golden Veg Rice⠀ - 80g Mushrooms⠀ - 60g Peas⠀ - 100g Chopped Tomatoes⠀ + 125g 5% Fat Beef⠀ + Frylight Spray⠀ ⠀ Desert:⠀ - 150g Apple + Grapes⠀ + 0% Fage Greek Yoghurt⠀ ⠀ Snacks:⠀ - 30g Almonds⠀ - 1 Chocolate bar⠀ + 3 Mini Babybel Lights⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Right Side:⠀ ⠀ Breakfast:⠀ - 40g Oats⠀ - 3 Strawberries⠀ + 200ml Sweetened Almond Milk⠀ + 225ml Orange Juice⠀ ⠀ Lunch:⠀ - 1 Potato⠀ - 100g Salad⠀ - 1 tin Tuna⠀ + 15ml Caesar Dressing⠀ + 0.5 tbsp Olive Oil⠀ + 1 tbsp Mayo⠀ ⠀ Dinner:⠀ - 125g Golden Veg Rice⠀ - 80g Mushrooms⠀ - 60g Peas⠀ - 100g Chopped Tomatoes⠀ + 125g 12% Fat Beef⠀ + 1 tbsp Olive Oil⠀ ⠀ Desert:⠀ - 150g Apple + Grapes⠀ + Fage Greek Yoghurt⠀ ⠀ Snacks:⠀ - 30g Almonds⠀ - 1 Chocolate bar⠀ + 3 Mini Babybels⠀ ⠀ #theFFF #theFFFeed @theFFFeed

A post shared by LUCY MOUNTAIN (@thefashionfitnessfoodie) on

"I believe there are certain foods which are generally beneficial for everyone to include in their diet," she writes in one Instagram post, "However, what you actually eat should come down to you, your body, your health, your goal and your personal preference.
⠀
"What one person calls a 'good food', another person might call a 'bad food'. Look beyond the labels and do your own research to figure out what works for you on all levels."

Salt and Vinegar Crisps vs Vegetable Crisps 🥔⠀ ⠀ Each of these bowls contain 1 bag (40g) of crisps. The bowl on the left are salt and vinegar, the bowl on the right are mixed root vegetable.⠀ ⠀ Although the difference in calories is pretty minuscule, you’d expect the vegetable crisps to be considerably less calories right? This is just another little reminder that often there’s not much difference between the product marketed as the ‘healthy alternative’ and the real thing. So go for the thing you actually WANT to eat 🙌⠀ ⠀ Although there are many different aspects that describe ‘healthy’ (yes - it IS subjective), such as salt content, micro-nutrient value and how that food makes them feel, calories play a fundamental part in weight management. This post isn’t to say 'TRACK EVERYTHANG, TRACK THAT DAMN CUCUMBER’, it’s more about looking at your diet within the context of a whole day - and eating the damn salt and vinegar crisps if that’s want you actually want.⠀ ⠀ I want this and all my comparison posts to give encourage freedom with your food choices, not restriction. When 80% of my diet within a day is full of adequate micros and macros, i will ALWAYS eat food I love purely for taste. Because life. Ygm. 💁🏼⠀ ⠀ (All crisps are vegetable crisps 🌝)⠀ ⠀ Which side are you guys going for?⠀ ⠀ ⠀ *Crisps from Co-Op Irresistible range* - #theFFF #theFFFeed @thefffeed

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Some of Lucy's calorie comparisons are absolutely fascinating and confirms how important it is to know what we're putting into our body.

She also makes it clear that she believes we should not deprive ourselves too much from the foods we enjoy eating but instead have everything in moderation.

A handful of Almonds vs. A packet of Fruit Pastels 🍬⠀ ⠀ Both snacks have the same calories. Which one would you pick?⠀ ⠀ Occasionally I’m the left hand, but mostly I’m the right hand. (I know, shocking. A person who considers themselves into health and fitness eats sweets - and is openly talking about it on social media.) 🌝🌝🌝⠀ ⠀ You see, although I’m fully aware that a handful of almonds contains lots of wonderful nutrients that would keep me fuller for longer, some days (no matter whether I’m looking to gain, maintain or lose weight) I’ll choose to eat sweets or a chocolate bar as a snack 💪⠀ ⠀ Why? Because when the majority of my diet has consisted of well-balanced food that’s full of micronutrients, I have no issue eating something thats less so just because I love the taste of it. This is just a personal choice. Cutting out things I love isn’t realistic for me so I always squeeze something sweet into my days (all whilst still sticking to my calorie/macro/micro targets.)⠀ ⠀ Many would choose the almonds for the nutritional value or the flavour - which is totally fine. Many would choose the almonds because even though they'd prefer Fruit Pastels, almonds would make them feel more ‘on track’ mentally - which again, is totally fine 💕⠀ ⠀ I’m not glorifying sweets, or almonds for that matter. I’m glorifying knowing what’s in the food you’re eating, and make educated decisions based on your own values. And I value food that’s good for my body and good for my soul.⠀ ⠀ ‘Healthy' to me is exactly what I make it. And Fruit Pastels (in moderation) make me happy which I believe contributes largely to my overall health 🙌⠀ ⠀ #theFFF #theFFFeed @thefffeed

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Check out some of her amazing juxtapositions:

 

 

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