Question regarding veggies

[Erin80]

I'm just trying to figure out this 3 cup limit thing on induction with veggies. So, I usually have a salad for lunch, it's 3 cups of romaine lettuce. Then I also have a cup of sweet peppers usually at lunch, and then a cup of one of the "other" veggies at dinner such as broccoli or asparagus. Is the lettuce counting for anything? Or should I be eating 2 cups of salad veggies excluding the actual lettuce? For example...the salad, plus a cup of mushrooms and a cup of peppers, then still the cup of broccoli at dinner. Sorry if this confusing! According to the net carbs, a half a cup of romaine lettuce is only 0.2 net carbs...that's why I was eating the other veggies as well.

[Elizellen]

It seems to me you have been overeating your vegetables by a couple of cups

One reason we recommend choosing different 'salad veggies' from just letuce on induction is that having all your 3 cups of lettuce really doesnt give you much in the way of nutrition, and makes it impossible to get 'more than half' of your net 20 carbs from your veggies! Lettuce especially the light green ones are basically just chewy water!!

When you move to the first OWL rung you can add several cups of lettuce if you like, but for induction I would suggest using more nutritious veggies like your sweet peppers and mushrooms (plus some of the others like jicama etc) plus one cup of broccoli for your total of 3 cups!!

[Erin80]

I think that's what I've been doing....I'm eating the lettuce, but you're right, it's just like chewy water with little nutrition. So I've been eating 1 cup of red peppers with it, then with dinner 1 cup of broccoli. So I'm actually only having 2 cups of veggies in a day, and then a salad. I'm just trying to figure out if I'm supposed to eat salad and count it as a veggie serving or not. Should I cut out salad altogether during induction and just do as you say and eat 3 cups of more nutritious veggies?

[apple]

Sounds like you're a veggie lover too! I would also say to cut back on the lettuce and add the extra fun and colorful veggies you've been eating, while adding more protein. Oh, and save the lettuce for making "sandwiches" and "tacos" as well. One thing more to think about, Dr. A says to spread out your carbs, and eating all your veggies at once can cause a carb load and melt down not long after. Enjoy your veggies through out the day and have fun playing with them!

[Elizellen]

I wish Dr Atkins hadnt called the 2-3 cup list 'salad vegetables' at all It causes so much confusion as many people think the word 'salad' = 'lettuce'.

You can have 2 cups off the first list and one off the second list, OR 3 cups from the first list if you have none of the second list vegetables on induction.

If you feel you want to have more vegetables (from either list) then once you have completed your first 14 days move onto the first rung of OWL where you can add 5 net carbs of vegetables. (which is more lettuce than anyone could eat!!!)