It’s been a hot-minute since I’ve posted a WIAW recap and I know you’re dying to see my oatmeal again. First, I wanted to talk about something near and dear to my heart….fruit.
I love fruit. In fact, I can count on one hand the fruits I don’t love (pineapple, grapefruit, oranges, kiwi). I can probably out-fruit you on any given day. Yes, I just tried to make out-fruit you a thing. But there are many people, bloggers, health nuts who don’t love fruit. I do believe in “everything in moderation,” but I feel like some people intentionally limit their fruit intake because of the sugar and carbohydrate count.
While I completely understand and have experienced the effects of eating too much fruit, I don’t understand how fruit can be as “feared” as processed foods with added sugar. I’m 100% not an RD but a bowl of melon seems like a better snack than a candy bar, right? Especially when you eat a “normal” serving size and incorporate a variety of foods into your overall diet. I think fruit should be treated like every other food, including vegetables. Too much of anything isn’t good.
Fruit is my go-to snack and because eating it works well for my body it’s not something I plan on limiting anytime soon. How do you feel about the sugar in fruit debate?
Now for the food, including lots of fruit, from yesterday.
Breakfast
Two bowls of oatmeal with Wild Friend’s Honey Sunflower Butter and strawberries
Snack
A big bowl of grapes (in my dirty oatmeal bowl)
Lunch
Big salad bowls are still a thing at home. I literally cleaned out the fridge with this one. Romaine + raw zucchini noodles + full avocado, grilled chicken, tomatoes, spaghetti squash and carrots with balsamic vinaigrette.
Snack
Un-pictured apple and kombucha
Dinner
Courtesy of my rockin’ mom. If we’re being honest, I ate 3 servings of this dinner. Quinoa (cooked in vanilla almond milk), zoodles, cashews, avocado, raw salmon with a honey-lime sauce.
Followed by a big plate of watermelon. Unfortunately it was shared.
Snack
Many spoonfuls of almond butter. Perfect end to a great day.
Back to Miami I go…for just a little longer :)
I will totally take you on in the out-fruit you contest. I love fruit and could probably also count on one hand the fruits I don’t like… Papaya, Mangoes, Cucumbers (if you technically count that as a fruit). I am right there with you too. I hate when people say fruit is bad for you because of the sugar, but more fruit for me I guess.
Haha exactly, more for us to enjoy!
I think you said it perfectly- too much of anything isn’t good. I never plan on eliminating fruit from my meals because of its sugar content and I just think that as long as you aren’t eating it all day, every day, it can be part of a perfectly healthy diet. Safe travels back to Miami!
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…WIAW, I’m Back!
Yup, it’s a part of a healthy balanced diet! Thanks, Brie!
Oh the fruit debate (as some people like to call it). I’m currently interning at a weight-loss clinic and so many of the patients are just plain scared of fruits, because they have CARBS. We still very much need carbs to live people. Anyway, like always, moderation and variety is key to a healthy and balanced diet. I would say my favorite fruit at the moment is pineapple, so sad it is on your list of fruit you don’t care for!
Alyssa recently posted…WIAW: The time I had the same lunch and dinner
Exactly! We need carbs to live and fruit is a healthy and delicious source of them. Pineapple is just too strong for me when eaten on it’s own. I like it grilled though!
I’m not afraid of fruit but I know a lot of people are because of the sugar. I don’t eat it often because it’s so expensive to buy, but when I was still living at home I would go to town on grapes. I still love strawberries and blueberries and take full advantage of them when I’m home or if we have them at work, and I try to eat an apple daily. The way I see it, it’s a healthy kind of sugar. I don’t eat fruit as dessert. it’s a food group, just like veggies and meat and grains are. Now you have me craving some berries :)
Sarah @pickyrunner recently posted…Philly Wedding Weekend
I eat so much more fruit when I’m at home because of the cost. I normally don’t buy a bag of grapes myself but when I’m home I’m always happy to open the fridge and see grapes. Yes- it’s just a food group! Simple as that.
Happy WIAW! Thanks for sharing your eats – I love seeing what everyone’s eating. And I love zoodles – love that you had them twice. And so fun to have your mom cooking for you – I’m jealous! That zoodle/quinoa dish looks amazing!
Melissa recently posted…WIAW #12 : Donut Day!
I was very lucky to have my mom cook a few meals for me when I was home! Now back to my usual meals unfortunately :(
I love fruit too, and don’t think I could really limit it. Apples are such an easy on-the-go snack, I eat at least one a day (and usually 2-3!) Berries, peaches, melon…all awesome in my book, and I probably get double the number of recommended servings. Although I’m allergic to oranges/grapefruits and their ilk, everything else is fair game!
Alyssa @ Renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…WIAW #8: Last Week of Class
At least one apple a day for me too! Ah peaches…such a summer favorite.
I love fruit so much too! It’s like candy to me.. I probably eat around 3 servings per day, but could easily eat more. I love vegetables as much too, you can’t say I don’t eat healthy ;)
I do like my vegetables but 9 times out of 10 I will choose fruit first.
All of your food looks delicious! I am not contemplating buying a bag of grapes! Everything is so colorful!
Regarding the fruit debate, I think it’s a little silly that some people think too much fruit would be too much sugar. Our bodies need the good sugars and carbs that are in fruit. We were designed to eat fruit and veggies–why would we limit them? I think we could eat as much fruit as we want, and it is probably the most healthy for us! I’ve been looking into fully raw diets and fruit diets and while these are not good for everyone, it has made me realize that as a whole, we should probably be eating more fruit, not less!
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Love what you said! We are designed to eat fruits and vegetables so why would we limit them- especially something that is so natural and in it’s purest form. I’m all for more fruit ;)
I always consider nutrients first – but like you said, everything in moderation – even the good stuff!
May recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday: Lunchtime Edition (6 Lunch Inspirations)
And fruit is packed with nutrients. As long as it’s not what we are eating 24/7 I think it’s a-okay.
People not eating fruit because of fear of the sugar just baffles me. I do and always have considered fruit a very healthy option for a snack! Especially since like you said, if you’re eating fruit over candy or chips or whatever…how is that unhealthy!? Crazy people. Anyways, rant over, fruit is yummy.
“Fruit is yummy” is enough of a reason for me to eat it.
I’m with you on the fruit in moderation! Plus there are so many good-for-you nutrients/antioxidants/hydration in fruits that make it great! My problem about having fruit for a snack is that fruit always seems to make me hungrier! So I pair it with something else and I’m good to go :)
Phoebe recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday #13
Pairing fruit with some protein (peanut butter or nuts for me) is a go-to healthy, filling snack!
Wait, you can eat raw salmon?! Hahah.
Fruit is not what makes people fat. I don’t get the big deal. I get the natural sugars thing, but I completely disagree with the whole “too much fruit” or “no fruit after 2pm” rule. Boo.
My mom buys really good quality salmon that can be eaten raw! It’s such a treat. Ugh the “no fruit after 2 pm” rule bugs me.
You think your mom would care if I joined y’all next time for dinner? Quinoa cooked in vanilla almond milk?! That sounds delicious.
Jessie recently posted…What Happens When Almond Milk Meets Coconut Milk?
Next time I have to try it with the Almond-Coconut milk!!!
Favorite fruit…apple…all the way. I’m sad you don’t like kiwi or pineapple!….I’m eating a kiwi (with skin) as we speak ;)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Crunchy Cinnamon “Sugar” Chickpeas
Apples…I eat at least one a day everyday! I like grilled pineapple but plain is just too sweet for me. Same with kiwi!
I used to be afraid of the sugar in fruit because of all the talk about it online, but thankfully I overcame that and now I eat fruit constantly haha! I really love mango and bananas! I average about 2-3 bananas a day, if I’m eating nice cream it’s more like 5-6. Just can’t get enough!
Leah M @ love me, feed me recently posted…Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Cookie Bars
I haven’t had a plain banana in a while but eating it with peanut butter is such a classic snack. They are so versatile!
I do eat lots of fruit (well, I eat as much fruit as I can afford haha), but I think it’d be hard to eat too much! I know if you eat a raw diet or something like that, eating too much fruit could be a problem, but I don’t think that most people eat too much haha.
Liv @ Healthy Liv recently posted…A Day of Eats + A Hill Workout
Yeah unfortunately it can be pricey sometimes. Especially if you’re like me and want fruit that’s not in-season.
I LOVE the way that salmon bowl looks. I’ve always been too intimidated to do the raw fish thing at home, but I may find some sushi grade and give that a try.
Dani @ DaniCaliforniaCooks recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday 3
My mom buys really good quality (local) fish or else I would be hesitant to try it at home too. It’s so fresh!
I LOVE fruit and I LOVE summer fruit. I try to keep my fruit consumption to 1-2 servings a day. Lately my favorites are bananas and frozen blueberries. I don’t discriminate with fruits, but honestly watermelon just isn’t a favorite anymore.
She Rocks Fitness recently posted…Simply 7 GIVEAWAY + WIAW
Summer fruit is THE best. That’s OK- I’ll eat your share of watermelon ;)
I love fruit! So much that I’ve learned you can overdo it. But that’s true of ANY food! That said, I definitely don’t make an effort to limit my fruit intake. The only fruits I can think of that I’m not crazy about are papaya and grapefruit.
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday recently posted…10 Things I’m Horrible At
Exactly, overeating any food is bad. Too much broccoli hurts my stomach!
Try to out-fruit me ;) . Honestly, my mum keeps telling me my apple consumption was too high – not because of the sugar but acids, though, as I’m a little sensitive there. That doesn’t stop me from eating at least three huge apples plus whatever other fruit is around, though.
It’s making me sad when I hear other bloggers talk about limiting their fruit intake. Sometimes I really wonder where we as a society so scared of even the most natural foods are going to end. Trusting our intuition has been a long lost trait – or so it seems.
Miss Polkadot recently posted…WIAW: Bring it back!
It makes me sad too. We can’t eat vegetables and lean protein for every single meal.
Oh, the fruit contest is on ;)
That quinoa dish looks great! Go mom!
I am also obsessed with fruit… I had to go to one of the expensive grocery stores by my work to have some for lunch and they had HUNDREDS of different fruits all laid out and chopped up perfectly. I was literally drooling… Ended up going with the blackberries though so i didnt break the bank!
Beverley @ sweaty&fit recently posted…Weekly Workout Wrap Up
Pre-cut fruit is my weakness. It’s just so expensive! Yum I haven’t had blackberries in a while.
I never limit my fruit! It is pretty much all I snack on during the day! I have at least 3 or 4 servings. As far as the sugar content goes- I try my very best to avoid any foods with added sugar, so I get almost all of my sugar from fruits and whole grains. If fruit makes your body feel great keep on eating it!
I could (and do!) eat fruit at any time of the day. I think I get about 4 servings a day, too.
I think I’ve read recommendations for people to cut “excessive” fruit consumption when trying to lose weight, if the person is eating huge quantities of it because it’s healthy. Obviously it is, but there has to be a limit. But I think as long as you’re eating it because you like it and it is good nutritionally, there is nothing wrong with eating it frequently.
Rebecca @ MyEagerFeet recently posted…New Rules of Lifting for Women – Introduction
I agree, there has to be some limit, especially if there are other health concerns like losing weight. But that goes for all food groups.
I agree. No such thing as too much fruit, although that’s not from a dietitian’s perspective, just a girl who likes fruit. :D
My favorite fruit is GRAPES or pineapple. Uganda has the best pineapples ever! :-)
Emily recently posted…WIAW – Bananas and Peanut Butter (I need to do more of these)
Haha my perspective is from a girl who likes fruit too ;) I could eat grapes all day.
I am with you but for me i usually limit to 2 in a day mostly because it seems to pop my blood sugar a bit and leave me hungry in n hour on its own. If i do eat fruit i try to eat it with something else like cheese or w eggs at breakfast but thats just me. Im reacting weirdly to foods lately and can’t quite figure out food that fill me up and give me energy and im not hungry too quickly from. Truing to write it all down and see if i can figure it out.
When I eat fruit with some form of protein (usually nut butter) it usually keeps me fuller longer. But everyone is different and I’m glad you notice if it doesn’t work for you :)