Are Mixed Nuts Compatible with a Calorie Budget (For Weight Loss)

[SendDerek]

All,

I've been doing really well with tracking calorie intake in regards to my budget, but I'm really struggling with mixed nuts!  I just don't understand how they can be compatible with the budget.  In other words, I don't feel they should be included in the budget.  Or, at least there's more to it than meets the eye.

For example, I just downed 105g of mixed nuts for an afternoon snack.  According to the label, that's 607 calories!  Slightly more calories than a McDonald's Big Mac.

Doing some initial research, it appears that nuts are a very healthy snack and don't attribute to weight gain:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nuts-and-weight-loss

It also sounds like the body only absorbs so much:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Eat-Well/Do-you-weigh-your-nuts/td-p/1213109

Even still, let's say 70% absorbed on average for mixed nuts.  That's about 425 calories based on my original 607 calorie count.  Not that far off from a Cinnabon MiniBon Roll at 380 calories.

To the point, I'm a little confused as to if I should or shouldn't be counting calories from a snack of mixed nuts.  Is there anybody here who would suggest not counting nut calories towards the calorie budget?  How should I approach this?

[Be50Gone · Accepted solution]

Yes they should count toward your total Calories.  Nuts can be good for a diet, but they have to be the right nut. Almonds, cashews, Pistachios, walnuts, and brazil nuts are the best for a diet. Unfortunately mixed nuts also contain Peanuts and Pecans. And 105grams is like 5 times the serving size of most nuts. I would cut back on your portion size and switch to a better nut. I eat a 17.5 gram bag of Cashews and it is only 100 calories and it does satisfy me.

[Baltoscott]

Yes, of course you count the calories.  

As you’ve noticed they can add up quickly, so you’ve got to watch the amounts.  But 15 - 30 grams for 100-200 cal can really round out and make satisfying a salad or oatmeal or yogurt and be the difference in making one meal last to the next.

[DanielleinDC]

CVS has a great nut mix that's just almonds, pistachios, and cashews. It is my favorite nut mix. I sometimes eat a handful of that with a few dried apricots as a midmorning snack.

[Bill_k]

I stopped eating nuts when i started dieting as they are too high calorie and i can't control myself as i love them too much.Same as peanut butter .It has way too many calories.