Can we have fruit on our low-carb diet?


So many people are afraid of fruit on their low-carb diet. The truth of the matter is that in the ongoing weight loss phase and especially in maintenance, fruit needs to be a part of one's diet. Think of all the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that keep us younger and healthier.

Here is a quote from Mary Shomon's site that made me realize just how many people on low-carb diets are probably shunning fruit even these days: "June 2004 -- In a national telephone survey , many low-carb dieters told ACNielsen pollsters they are shunning fruit in their attempt to lose weight, even though nutritionists say fruit plays an important role in a healthy diet. Fruit consumption is encouraged during the maintenance phase of popular low-carb diets, but that message may not be getting through. The pollsters spoke with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults, 12 percent of which said they were following a low-carb diet. Among those on low-carb diets, 30 percent said they had reduced their fruit consumption and 14 percent had stopped eating it altogether. That means that 44 percent of low-carb dieters -- roughly 11 million Americans -- may have dropped from their diets some essential nutrients commonly found in fruit."

By the way, most low-carbers will not eat bananas, but I eat them. What I do is slice them and freeze them and then eat a few slices a day. They go further that way and I don't feel deprived. I will also use bananas sparingly in baking. When I'm not in weight loss mode (most of the time), I will eat a banana a day and not gain weight, so it really depends on the person.