Ask Amy
Yes, fruit IS a carbohydrate!
Hawaii is rich with those desirable fresh fruits. Fruits supply are bodies with healthy fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. They are wonderful with a meal, as a small snack, or blended into a protein drink. However, please do keep an eye on your consumption. Fruit is considered a carbohydrate due to its natural sugar content. Overdoing it with your fruit intake can sometimes slow the weight loss process. But it is a part of a healthy diet! Once you have started eating solid foods, try to have 1 or 2 small servings of fruit a day.
To give you an idea of how many calories and carbs come in fruit, here's some guidelines. The following items contain ~60 calories and ~15 grams of carb.
Grapes, small (15)
Honeydew melon (1 slice or 1 cup cubes)
Mango, small (1/2 mango or 1/2 cup cubes)
Papaya (1/2 papaya)
Pineapple, fresh (1/2 cup)
Many of you will not be able to consume this much at a meal, but I do encourage you to incorporate small amounts into your diet. Remember, fruit juice (even if it is unsweetened) is not a substitute for fruit!
Let me know if you have any questions!
Hawaii is rich with those desirable fresh fruits. Fruits supply are bodies with healthy fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. They are wonderful with a meal, as a small snack, or blended into a protein drink. However, please do keep an eye on your consumption. Fruit is considered a carbohydrate due to its natural sugar content. Overdoing it with your fruit intake can sometimes slow the weight loss process. But it is a part of a healthy diet! Once you have started eating solid foods, try to have 1 or 2 small servings of fruit a day.
To give you an idea of how many calories and carbs come in fruit, here's some guidelines. The following items contain ~60 calories and ~15 grams of carb.
Grapes, small (15)
Honeydew melon (1 slice or 1 cup cubes)
Mango, small (1/2 mango or 1/2 cup cubes)
Papaya (1/2 papaya)
Pineapple, fresh (1/2 cup)
Many of you will not be able to consume this much at a meal, but I do encourage you to incorporate small amounts into your diet. Remember, fruit juice (even if it is unsweetened) is not a substitute for fruit!
Let me know if you have any questions!
Amy Ingols, Registered Dietitian
Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco