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It's easy to get answers about health and nutrition! Just send your question by email to [email protected] and Dr. Harlan will respond to selected questions of general interest. Answers will be posted in the Ask Dr. Gourmet newsletter (sign up now!) and archived in the Ask Dr. Gourmet section of the website.

Please note that the Ask Dr. Gourmet feature is restricted to questions regarding food and nutrition. Due to the many questions we receive, not all questions may be answered. For more specific questions about your individual health, please contact your doctor. About Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy


 

Ask Dr. Gourmet

Are there vegetables and fruits that have no calories?

Are there certain veggies and fruits that have no calories - that we can eat as much of as we want?

Dr. Gourmet Says...

Row of pears

All foods have at least some calories. Vegetables, as a rule of thumb, have very few calories by weight, but some can be higher than others.

For example, 4 ounces of carrots (about one cup) contains about 45 calories. The same 4 ounces of spinach is only 26 calories and is about 3 1/2 cups.

The great thing is that veggies are low enough in calories that you don't really have to worry about eating too much: you'll probably be full long before you've eaten all that many calories. The other wonderful part is that vegetables are full of fiber, vitamins and minerals. The fiber helps fill you up and stay satisfied long after a meal or snack.

Similarly, some fruits have more calories than others, but they all have calories.

Thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet