How do we know there really ARE "hidden" carbs in the foods when the numbers don't add up? Isn't it possible that the packager (or whoever) didn't know to subtract fiber from carbs and came up with the wrong total calorie count?

For example, I'm looking at frozen broccoli. It says 25 cal, 4 carb, 2 fiber, 2 protein. Fitday for raw broccoli - 24.64 cal, 4.61 carb, 2.64 fiber, 2.62 protein.

If I enter in the frozen broccoli in Fitday it comes back and says 'hey, this should be 16 calories'.

What to do? Broccoli doesn't really have 6 or 7 carbs per cup! I run into this a lot.

Hi there......

There are tools available here on the forum to help you out with finding "hidden carbs". You can find them by going to the orange bar at the top of the page and clicking on Low Carb Tools or use the Quick Link on the right hand side of the page: "Hidden Carb Inspector".

One of the benefits of avoiding pre-prepared and packaged foods is that it's easier to know what you are getting when you start from scratch yourself. Why use frozen broccoli when fresh broccoli is better for you and simple to prepare? And there will be no question about what you are getting.

In the most recent edition of DANDR, broccoli is listed in the front Carb Counter list as 1 Cup = 8.5g of carbs and on the list at the back as .5 Cup = 3.9g total carbs and 1.7g "digestible carbs". There is no detail there about whether this is fresh or frozen broccoli.

Bottom line, I think, is that when we are talking about carbs that come from the lower carb veggies, don't worry too much about it. It's the carbs that come from high glycemic sources that we really need to be concerned with. Veggie carbs are generally also high nutrition carbs so in the long run better for us than carbs that come from things like bars.

HTH
Marlaine

...and just to confuse you even more, when you're talking about produce, its nutrient values will vary slightly based on where it's grown and under what conditions.



I agree with Marlaine; when the difference is only a gram or so of carbs, it's not going to make a significant difference. I think the "hidden carbs" stuff is mainly for when you're talking about stuff like (so-called) low-carb candies, etc...