A Right Time for Everything
When it comes to eating healthy and losing weight, I get a lot of questions from my clients about fruit – how much to eat, when not to eat it, and when to eat it.
And these are actually really important questions. Most fruits present a bit of a dilemma due to their high sugar content. Now, keep in mind that that fruit is natural and unprocessed, so it’s not as bad as the sugar you add to your coffee. Plus it comes along with a bunch of vitamins and nutrients, like fiber, that actually help you burn more fat.
But nevertheless, the sugar can be a problem, especially if you eat too much fruit. It’s recommended that you get about 8 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, but I would make sure that no more than 4 of those servings are fruit. You don’t want to overdo the sugar, especially when you’re trying to lose weight. The problem really comes down to the extra calories, and if you don’t burn off the sugar, these calories can be stored as fat.
For more information on calorie intake, read my article, How Many Calories Should I Eat a Day?
Timing is another important factor when it comes to eating fruit, so let’s take a look at when not to eat it and when to it…
When Should I Avoid Eating Fruit?
I always recommend not eating too much fruit later in the day, especially just before bed. Since fruit can be higher in calories and sugar, eating it before bed reduces the likelihood of burning it off during sleep.
That being said, if you need something sweet, it’s still better than going for a candy bar or a bowl of ice cream. Late night snacking is a big issue for dieters, but if you try to get out of the habit of needing anything sweet at all before bed, you’re better off.
The best choice is something high in protein, like one of these 5 Protein Rich Gym Snacks, to boost your metabolism and keep you feeling full.
When Should I Eat Fruit?
The best time to eat fruit is earlier in the day, to give yourself the opportunity to burn off the extra calories and prevent that sugar from being stored as fat. This is still a pretty general recommendation though, so if I had to get specific about it, I’d say the very best time is when you just wake up (to jumpstart your morning) or just before a workout, to give you some extra fuel.
Either way, the idea is to eat fruit (and any foods containing sugar) earlier so you can burn it off later. You’ll reap the nutritional benefits without packing on any extra weight.
Some of the best fruits to include in fat loss diet include apples, raspberries, blueberries, acai berries, tomatoes, and grapefruit. All of these are great for boosting your metabolism and supporting a healthy immune system. I also really like bananas as a pre-workout snack, as they’re high in potassium for energy.
One of the best ways to include fruit in your diet is in a healthy smoothie. Check out these 7 Lip Smacking Smoothie Recipes. By adding protein, you’ll get even better all-around support for your health and fitness goals!
Have any questions or feedback about when to eat fruit? Please leave a comment below…
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Thank you for visiting! Weight Loss and Training is a health blog which features all the best weight loss tips that I have learned over my 20 years of training. My background includes a degree in Kinesiology from the world renown Simon Fraser University, certification in nutritional sciences from UBC, and Personal Trainer Specialist certification from Can Fit Pro.
I love eating fruits, but I made sure to only eat the low glycemic ones and moderate the ones high in sugar. One technique I used in eating fruits to its full extent is by processing them as a smoothie. A smoothie is an incredible healthy snack if you’re trying to lose weight. You can add veggies and healthy fats into it, balancing out the sugar you got when eating raw fruits.