Vegans? Vegetarians?

[kittygrrl]

Everything on the plate is vegan

[Gayandgray]

Ok, I need some help and I hope this is the right place to post this? I am very overweight, and I am wanting to get myself together and lose weight before I turn 50. I know that low carb diets work, because I lost over 100lbs following Atkins in the past. However, I'm really getting sick of eating so much meat!! And I've been reading about the stuff they feed the animals, chemicals, abuse the factory farm animals go through their entire lives, etc. I can't afford to buy only organic food and grass fed beef, but I really am wondering about what I'm actually putting in my body??? Growing up, I saw chickens living OUTSIDE, not inside. They ate grass and bugs and they took dust baths and they laid eggs and we ate them and that was fine by me. Nowadays I rarely see chickens outside. The farm across the road has them locked up inside these big chicken houses and they never see the sun. I don't know what the farmer feeds them? I'm just feeling like maybe I need to not focus so much on avoiding carbs and eating a lot of meat, but eating HEALTHY for awhile....... I have been craving fruits and veggies the past few days and the doctor my sister works for said that may be a sign I need the nutrients. I'm not saying I want to just become a vegetarian overnight, but I'd like to at least cut back a bit on meat and eat more healthy. In the past when I did Atkins I avoided tropical fruits and only ate berries once in awhile. Now I'm craving pineapple and mangoes. And I like putting bananas in my protein shakes with kale. I'm also thinking about trying this substituting cauliflower for potatoes thing? I hear a lot of people talking about it. I'm afraid of potatoes and pasta because I have no willpower and won't practice portion control!!!!!! I'm looking into maybe a lower carb vegetarian way of eating, if that makes sense? I'm sorry if this post seems like I'm rambling but I just needed to get this out somehow and don't want it to sound weird. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

[nycfem]

Hi, a great vegan, low carb, high fiber substitute for pasta is tofu shirataki noodles, available in all natural food stores / health food stores and sometimes even in regular grocery stores. A large portion is also less than 20 calories. I think they are delish.

Originally Posted by Gayandgray

Ok, I need some help and I hope this is the right place to post this? I am very overweight, and I am wanting to get myself together and lose weight before I turn 50. I know that low carb diets work, because I lost over 100lbs following Atkins in the past. However, I'm really getting sick of eating so much meat!! And I've been reading about the stuff they feed the animals, chemicals, abuse the factory farm animals go through their entire lives, etc. I can't afford to buy only organic food and grass fed beef, but I really am wondering about what I'm actually putting in my body??? Growing up, I saw chickens living OUTSIDE, not inside. They ate grass and bugs and they took dust baths and they laid eggs and we ate them and that was fine by me. Nowadays I rarely see chickens outside. The farm across the road has them locked up inside these big chicken houses and they never see the sun. I don't know what the farmer feeds them? I'm just feeling like maybe I need to not focus so much on avoiding carbs and eating a lot of meat, but eating HEALTHY for awhile....... I have been craving fruits and veggies the past few days and the doctor my sister works for said that may be a sign I need the nutrients. I'm not saying I want to just become a vegetarian overnight, but I'd like to at least cut back a bit on meat and eat more healthy. In the past when I did Atkins I avoided tropical fruits and only ate berries once in awhile. Now I'm craving pineapple and mangoes. And I like putting bananas in my protein shakes with kale. I'm also thinking about trying this substituting cauliflower for potatoes thing? I hear a lot of people talking about it. I'm afraid of potatoes and pasta because I have no willpower and won't practice portion control!!!!!! I'm looking into maybe a lower carb vegetarian way of eating, if that makes sense? I'm sorry if this post seems like I'm rambling but I just needed to get this out somehow and don't want it to sound weird. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

[Gayandgray]

Oh I have seen those even in Walmart but I didn't know what they were, exactly. Thank you!

[*Anya*]

I am on a low carb eating plan and if you figure out your total carbs for the day, you can include veggies and fruits.

I don't do a strict Atkins; just a low- carb, keto-ish type plan and really love it.

This list might be helpful and I included the website.


Vegetable List

Here’s a quick list of all the lowest carb veggies. Serving Size: 1/4 cup, unless otherwise indicated.

Vegetable | Net Carbs

Artichoke 6.9
Asparagus (6) 2.4
Beans, green 2.9
Beets 6.5
Bok Choy 0.7
Broccoli 1.7
Brussels Sprouts 7.6
Cabbage 1.1
Carrot 5.1
Cauliflower 1.5
Celery 0.8
Collard Greens 3.0
Cucumber 1.8
Eggplant 2.0
Garlic (1 clove) 1.0
Lettuce 0.5
Mushroom 1.0
Onion 4.0
Parsnip 9.0
Peas 6.5
Peppers, Green 3.4
Peppers, Red 3.3
Pickle (1 medium) 2.0
Pumpkin 6.3
Radish 0.5
Rutabaga 4.0
Spinach 0.2
Squash, yellow 1.4
Tomato 3.2
Turnips 2.3
Zucchini 3.3

Fruit Quick List

Serving Size: 1/4 cup, unless otherwise indicated.

Fruit | Net Carbs

Applesauce 6.2
Apricot (1 whole) 3.1
Avocado (1 whole) 0.5
Cantaloupe 3.0
Carambola/Starfruit (1 whole) 3.0
Cherries 4.2
Coconut 1.3
Grapes 6.7
Grapefruit (1 whole) 9.0
Honeydew 3.6
Kiwi 6.5
Lemon (1 whole) 3.8
Mango 6.3
Orange (1 whole) 12.9
Passionfruit (1 whole) 2.0
Peach (1 whole) 8.9
Pineapple 4.3
Plantain 12.0
Plum (1 whole) 7.6
Watermelon 2.6


Low Carb Berry Quick List

Here’s a quick list of all the lowest carb berries. Serving Size: 1/4 cup, unless otherwise indicated.

Berry | Net Carbs

Acai Berry (1 oz) 5.0
Blackberry 2.7
Blueberry 4.1
Boysenberry 13.0
Cranberry 2.0
Currant 4.0
Elderberry 4.0
Gooseberry 9.0
Huckleberry (3.5 oz) 8.0
Loganberry (3.5 oz) 8.0
Pokeberry shoots 1.0
Raspberry 1.5
Salmonberry (3.5 oz) 8.0
Strawberry 1.8

http://lowcarbediem.com/atkins-low-c...egetable-list/

[Gayandgray]

Just got home and saw this, thank you Anya!!!! This is very helpful!

[kittygrrl]

This is just a suggestion, but why not grow your own organic vegetables? And perhaps plant a small fruit tree? You can make your own compost. All it takes is your time and lawn clippings, leaves, and little dirt etc. Start with something simple like peas and zucchini and maybe a lettuce patch? It's up to you! You could save quite a lot not buying at the store and the satisfaction you will feel will make it well worth it.

[Angeltoes]

I don't see anything wrong with keeping complex carbs in your diet. You can have potatoes, but the problem is that if you're on a diet you can't have butter or cheese with them. I'm a vegan and if I didn't eat complex carbs like potatoes, quinoa, brown rice, etc., I'm not sure what I would eat. I eat mostly carbs like pumpkin, lentils, corn, but I don't eat anything with added sugar. No white bread and obviously no eggs or dairy. I use vegan cheeses which are not delicious on their own, but taste fine when added to dishes in moderation. I use all kinds of sauces that are vegetable-based, nooch (nutritional yeast), fruits, and vegetables, vegan butter. It takes some research and experimentation for people to find what works for them. I think the trick is when you're starting out on a vegan diet is to always have suitable snacks on hand so you don't give into temptation. That's what worked for me.

Originally Posted by Gayandgray

Ok, I need some help and I hope this is the right place to post this? I am very overweight, and I am wanting to get myself together and lose weight before I turn 50. I know that low carb diets work, because I lost over 100lbs following Atkins in the past. However, I'm really getting sick of eating so much meat!! And I've been reading about the stuff they feed the animals, chemicals, abuse the factory farm animals go through their entire lives, etc. I can't afford to buy only organic food and grass fed beef, but I really am wondering about what I'm actually putting in my body??? Growing up, I saw chickens living OUTSIDE, not inside. They ate grass and bugs and they took dust baths and they laid eggs and we ate them and that was fine by me. Nowadays I rarely see chickens outside. The farm across the road has them locked up inside these big chicken houses and they never see the sun. I don't know what the farmer feeds them? I'm just feeling like maybe I need to not focus so much on avoiding carbs and eating a lot of meat, but eating HEALTHY for awhile....... I have been craving fruits and veggies the past few days and the doctor my sister works for said that may be a sign I need the nutrients. I'm not saying I want to just become a vegetarian overnight, but I'd like to at least cut back a bit on meat and eat more healthy. In the past when I did Atkins I avoided tropical fruits and only ate berries once in awhile. Now I'm craving pineapple and mangoes. And I like putting bananas in my protein shakes with kale. I'm also thinking about trying this substituting cauliflower for potatoes thing? I hear a lot of people talking about it. I'm afraid of potatoes and pasta because I have no willpower and won't practice portion control!!!!!! I'm looking into maybe a lower carb vegetarian way of eating, if that makes sense? I'm sorry if this post seems like I'm rambling but I just needed to get this out somehow and don't want it to sound weird. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

[Gayandgray]

My boss at the kennel gave me some veggie "chicken" patties to try, but I haven't made them yet. I have been eating a lot of fruits, veggies, and I cooked a pot of brown rice and measured myself a 1/2 cup serving with veggies. Im still eating eggs and cheese right now. But funny thing is, since I stopped obsessing about carbs and eating so much meat, my appetite seems to have decreased a bit?? And I'm not feeling so tired and yucky. I'm thinking my body was seriously lacking some nutrients. I'm going to keep researching and trying out recipes and stuff. And the compost idea doesn't seem too hard? I love working out in the yard.