Exploding Food Myth 2. Fruit is fattening when taken as a dessert

(Photo: behance.net)

Any piece of fruit will contain the same amount of calories whether it's eaten before or after a meal - so the energy value they provide throughout the day will be the same. Our stomach doesn't contain separate compartments where one thing tops another; in the end, everything gets mixed into the gastric juices. The advantage of eating fruit before a meal is that, thanks to its fibre and water content, it gives us a sense of satisfaction, so we tend to eat less of the main meal. (See the first in our Exploding Food Myths series.)