Trim Healthy Mama 106 - Glorious Veggies!

In this post, I want to talk about vegetables in all their magnificent variety!

First, let's talk about non-starchy vegetables.  These are allowed in liberal quantities for all meal types.  Non-starchies do have small amounts of carbs, but the carbs are generally offset by fiber, so we don't have to count them as a carb.  Cool, huh?

There are literally hundreds of non-starchy carbs.  Here is a list of some of my favorites:

• Leafy greens.  So many benefits here.  Spinach, kale, spring mix, romaine and so forth.  Take and eat in abundance!
• Asparagus
• Cabbage
• Cucumbers
• Peppers, peppers, peppers... mild, hot, and everything in between
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower (it's like stem cells - wait till you see what it can turn into!)
• Radishes
• Eggplant
• Fresh tomatoes
• Brussels sprouts
• Celery
• Zucchini and yellow squash
• Spaghetti squash
• Mushrooms.  Did you know they are like sponges and you can stick them in a sunny window and they will absorb vitamin D?  Who knew?
• Green Beans
• Okra (Find a way to love it.  It's a super food powerhouse.)
• Kohlrabi

Leafy greens are the lowest and most nutritious of all the non-starchies.
Eat them in generous amounts.

Starchier carbs are best eaten in E meals.  We have already talked about sweet potatoes and legumes which definitely fall into the E category. Some of these starchier vegetables on the following list can also be used in smaller amounts for S and FP meals as noted.

• Carrots (small amounts in S and FP)
• Onions (small amounts in S and FP)
• Beets (small amounts in S and FP)
• Pumpkin (small amounts in S and FP)
• Parsnips
• Rutabaga
• Turnips
• Acorn or butternut squash
• Peas
• Tomato sauce and paste:  while tomatoes are lower carb, these products are more concentrated so just be aware and don't overdo them while in S mode.

Vegetables such as olives and avocados are high in fat and are best paired with S meals.  Although technically, both of them are classified as fruits.  And technically, rhubarb is a vegetable and you can enjoy it like a non-starchy.  Let me know if you find a way of making it taste good without loading it with sugar.  Salsa, maybe?

Rhubarb:  something I have never learned to love

The bottom line:  enjoy your veggies in great abundance!

For the last post on THM basics, click here.