Originally Posted by
Bmach
General, so are you saying that 600 calories from sugary foods/soda is the same as 600 calories fruits/vegetables? If it is then I’m dropping the veg/fruits and drinking a couple mt dews instead.
Yes, and no.
On a purely calorie or weight basis, yes, calories are calories. However diet is about more than calories. There are all sorts of other nutrients in that food, all of which are important. There's also a question of what I call the satisfaction index. Some foods offer high satisfaction as you eat them, and can stay in the stomach longer, so you're likely to be more satisfied longer, and eat less than you might with low SI foods.
So, calories are what matters, but how you get them is also important in subtle ways.