Nutritionists' simple pictures bust big food myths

Fruit and nut mix isn't as healthy as you think. Photo / Instagram

Dried fruit and nuts are a healthy snack, right?

Many people make that assumption, and so they munch on them with gay abandon while they're on the go.

But Canadian Instagrammer Nikki, who posts under the handle @justget.fit has posted an image that shows the reality of the calories in your fruit and nut mix.

"Same calories but 9x the volume on the left!" writes Nikki in her Instagram post.

"Calorie-dense foods (like nuts and dried fruits) can be a convenient way to snack when you're on the go, but in my experience they can be easy to overeat," she continues.

"They also don't contain nearly as much protein as people think. The nuts and dried fruit on the right are from a single serving snack pack I bought at the grocery store. The pack contained almonds, macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts and dried fruit."

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Same calories BUT 9x the volume on the left! . Calorie dense foods (like nuts + dried fruits) can be a convenient way to snack when you're on the go, but, in my experience they can be easy to overeat. They also don't contain nearly as much protein as people think. The nuts + dried fruit on the right are from a single serving snack pack I bought at the grocery store. The pack contained almonds, macadamian nuts, Brazil nuts and dried fruit (although it's hard to see in the picture) The package the nuts + fruits stated: 517 calories: 43C/34F/10P . 90% of the time I prefer more volume because, it helps with satiety, reduces feelings of deprivation and leads to higher success rates and compliance when trying to stick with reduced calories. #justgetfitcarbs . My meal on the left includes: 1 whole egg, 1 egg white, 1 bell pepper, 2 laughing cow cheese wedges, 3 small slices of bread, 2 Tbsp. humus + 90 grams avocado. 520: 43C/26F/28P . The point of this isn't to scare you into avoiding nuts. It's just good to keep in mind: the serving size and type of nuts and dried fruit you consume. Just like volume eating isn't for everyone, big handfuls of nuts aren't for everyone so do you, boo. ♥ . . . . . . . . #volumeeating  #flexiblediet @JustGet.Fit #weightlossfood #justgetfitvolumeeating

A post shared by Nikki 🔥 HOME Workouts🏠 (@justget.fit) on Oct 16, 2017 at 12:11pm PDT

The calorie content of the fruit and nut mix was 517 calories.

"Ninety per cent of the time I prefer more volume because it helps with satiety, reduces feelings of deprivation and leads to higher success rates and compliance when trying to stick with reduced calories," she says.

"My meal on the left includes: 1 whole egg, 1 egg white, 1 bell pepper, 2 laughing cow cheese wedges, 3 small slices of bread, 2 tablespoons hummus + 90 grams avocado.

"This equates to 520 calories."

She goes on to clarify the point of the post isn't to scare people into avoiding nuts.

"It's just good to keep in mind the serving size and type of nuts and dried fruit you consume."

It's not the first time she has given a reality check to her 188,000 followers on Instagram.

She also reposted an image from Queensland dietitian Leanne Ward (who posts under the handle @the_fitness_dietitian.

"My girl @the_fitness_dietitian shows the importance of understanding portion and serving size," she writes.

"So many people struggle with reaching their weight loss goals despite eating 'healthy foods'.

"I know from personal experience how easy it can be to over-estimate your portion sizes. If you're trying to lose weight, I recommend weighing or measuring your portions for a day or two to see how much you may 'over-estimate' without even realising.

"Both these toasts are very similar in taste and nutritional composition but the energy density is very different:

Left picture:

1 piece multigrain toast
1/4 avocado
1 tablespoon pepitas
1 teaspoon chia seeds

Right picture:

1 piece dense grain bread
1/2 avocado
2 tablespoons pepitas
3 teaspoons chia seeds

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🙌🏼Double tap if smashed avo on toast is your breakfast staple🥑 🙊I decided to do another calorie comparing pic for those who may be struggling to reach their weight loss goals but eating 'healthy foods' 🤷🏼‍♀️This picture is to demonstrate why I think it's important to understand portions & serving sizes 👌🏼 So many of my clients can't understand why they can't meet their weight loss goals but this picture demonstrates that even I as a dietitian I over estimate my portion sizes 😳 If you're trying to lose weight, I recommend weighing or measuring your portions for a day or two to see how much you may 'overestimate' without even realising 🙊 Both these toasts are very similar in taste & nutritional composition but the energy density is very different: . . Left picture: 1 piece multigrain toast 1/4 avocado 1 tablespoons pepitas 1 teaspoon chia seeds . . . Right picture: 1 piece dense grain bread 1/2 avocado 2 tablespoons pepitas 3 teaspoons chia seeds . . . Remember: things like avocado, seeds and nuts are very healthy but also quite energy dense ie: high in (good) calories. If weight loss is your goal, watch your portions of energy dense foods 👌🏼 You can still enjoy all your favourite things as part of a healthy lifestyle but understanding quantities & portion sizes can help you achieve your goals 💗 Tag a friend below you think this would help 👇🏼👇🏼 #portioncontrol #calorie #portionsize #avocado #eatright #fuelyourbody . . . . . . . . #toasttoppers #macros #portiondistortion #healthyrecipe #fitfood #bbg #eeeeats #cleaneating #servingsize #eatthisnotthat #youarewhatyoueat #eatgoodfeelgood #caloriecounting #healthyfood #weightloss #fitgirl #eatwell #iifym #eatright #weightlossmotivation #bbgprogress #thefitnessdietitian #leanbyleanne

A post shared by Leanne Ward - Nutrition Expert (@the_fitness_dietitian) on Jul 26, 2017 at 2:15am PDT

"Remember, things like avocado, seeds and nuts are very healthy but also quite energy dense ie: high in (good) calories. If weight loss is your goal, watch your portions of energy dense foods."

Nikki is a big fan of meal prep, to ensure that she eats a healthy diet throughout the week.

Her Instagram feed is populated with images of the healthy weekly meals and snacks that she prepares for herself and her partner.

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Meal prepping in one of my fav @womensbest sets ♥. . What life hacks do you have for making your day/week easier? . I meal prep. I plan out my gym clothes. I plan out my work clothes. I plan out my workouts. I make lists. Like a lot. 😂 And...i take it all in stride. ♥ . . . . . . . . #womensbest #eatbetternotless #mealpreparation

A post shared by Nikki 🔥 HOME Workouts🏠 (@justget.fit) on Nov 8, 2017 at 11:46am PST