When it comes to vegetables, can you eat as much as you like?

WantToBeSE

I am just wondering, when it comes to veggies can you eat as much as you like (within reason- i doubt eating 1000s of calories worth of veg is physically possible) without worrying about weight gain?

I obviously wouldn't deep fry any and expect to get away with it, LOL, i mean steamed, stir fried, raw, baked etc?

UKTigerlily

Well, i'm not a veg fan so have no worries about overdoing it but I do do Slimming World and there we can eat unlimited veg if we want to. Not sure if it's everything as I rarely eat any but pretty sure so long as not cooked in anything it's all free food. It's why I love SW, so many free foods I never get hungry!

[Deleted User]

It's about how many calories you're eating, not whether it's veg or not. If you're eating the right number of calories your weight will be stable, but if you eat one extra banana a day on top of that you will gain about 10 pounds in a year.

On the other hand vegetarians eat all veg, but won't gain weight if they're eating the right amount.

WantToBeSE

jack_pott wrote: »

It's about how many calories you're eating, not whether it's veg or not. If you're eating the right number of calories your weight will be stable, but if you eat one extra banana a day on top of that you will gain about 10 pounds in a year.

On the other hand vegetarians eat all veg, but won't gain weight if they're eating the right amount.

I am a vegan, so the majority of my diet is plant based. Almost everything i eat is vegetable based (with some grains obviously).

I ask the question because i have not calorie counted before, and wonder if i should.

jenniewb

Speaking as someone with a long eating disordered history, I can say, for several reasons; you can eat too many vegetables and they are not calorie free. Yes you can eat a fair bulk of them but you will find the more you eat the more you're able to eat over time and you can end up eating enough to be wary about.

If you eat too many green or brightly coloured vegetables you should be aware these are high in vitamin A or beta-carotene, this can turn your skin yellow as unlike other vitamins, in excess your body does not just pee out the surplus, instead, as vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin it stays in your body fat and can I just say, even people with anorexia will have some body fat and when it turns yellow, it doesn't look good...it looks like jaundice and is difficult when it can look patchy.

If you eat a vast amount of vegetables, every day or frequenly, you will find your body adapts and simply increases your appetite for whatever you are eating to sustain your weight. If all you are allowing yourself is fruit and vegetables, your appetite for them will simply increase. You will more than likely stretch your stomach to allow the amount your body requires and being that the fiber content is so high it is likely you will look and feel bloated for the following hours afterwards whilst your body finds a way to get through the roughage and locate the calories.

Added to which- vegetables are a carbohydrate. There is nothing wrong with carbohydrates- *in moderation*! If your body only eats carbs or has too many carbs it will store what it doesn't use after having converted it from it's sugar form to store. You will still need protein and for those thinking there is a form of protein in vegetables, without wanting to go in to large amounts of detail in this thread, I strongly suggest you read up on 'complete proteins'. If your trying to get your protein from green leafy veg alone your body will struggle to get what it needs; not because there isn't very much there but because the quality is poor in comparison to what your body requires to function and build new cells.

I will also say along with the carb value; vegetables however lightly steamed are not calorie free. They may have insoluble fiber (stuff your body cannot digest) and may take up a large amount of your plate, but even without the tomato ketchup, balsamic vinegar or whatever dressing you add to it (however fat/sugar/carb free) they are not calorie free. I used to live from a diet of only fresh fruit and steamed veg (no dressing, no sugar, not even any salt). I managed to maintain a healthy weight for a fairly long time (we're talking years). I was not including potatos, bananas or beans in my diet. I just ate green vegetables, and fresh fruit. Vegetables are not calorie free. When I cut out some of the vegetables eventually my weight pretty sharply decreased. (For those still in disbelief; the vegetables I cut back to make that weight change were simply steamed cauliflower, steamed broccoli and steamed green beans). They are not calorie free. Weight and measure what you are actually eating if you want to include them in a calorie controlled diet if you are worried but at the end of the day, no one should have to live their lives by weights and measurements if at all possible. Learn what a portion size is and you're fairly safe to eat the odd extra portion without any real concern (but eat the odd extra 10 portions in one go and you may have reason for concern). Everything is fine but as long as it is in moderation.

And another issue? Gas. I wont detail that, I'll let you do that yourselves

There are no doubt other problems with filling up on veg and I will say once or twice is fine, no problem. But if you do lean on doing that as a solution to hunger or trying to avoid other foods or just trying to not eat you can easily run in to problems. I did and it took me a long while to get over it.

WantToBeSE

Thanks Jennie.

I am familiar with the gas problem I am definitely not eating lots of vegetables as a solution to hunger, or to try and avoid other foods, i just really like them and eat a plant based diet.

jenniewb

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thanks Jennie.

I am familiar with the gas problem I am definitely not eating lots of vegetables as a solution to hunger, or to try and avoid other foods, i just really like them and eat a plant based diet.

Just as long as you remember to vary whatever you eat- even within the choice of veg but also remembering that things like nuts, seeds, beans and pulses as well as starch really work well with vegetables and will help you get a full scope of vitamins and nutrients.

pollypenny

I'm vegetarian, living on plants and I never compensate. I very occasionally eat pulses, have a yoghurt every day and milk in coffee.

I'm very healthy. Don't worry.

A.Penny.Saved

Eating lower carb green veg is a healthy way to eat. Far too many carbs are eaten by most people which causes weight problems. This is partly due to insulin release in the short term where insulin release in response to rising blood glucose levels causes the storing of body fat Carbs also cause the adaptation of colon flora in the long term where carbohydrate sources, which includes fibre are converted into fatty acids which can very significantly increase the bodies overall daily calorie total.

Some vegetables are much higher in carbs than others. Potatoes are very high in carbs and there are others which have quite high levels.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/

rdone

I'm a vegan too and was wondering how my diet was. I take supplements everyday that I buy from H&B.

I recently went to the doctors to get a blood test done to make sure my body was in balance and it was all good. Maybe you could go and speak to a nutritionist to get some professional advice? I wouldn't recommend googling it though - your doctors should be able to point you in the right direction.

Ilona

I eat a large variety and a lot of veg every day, mostly steamed, sometimes raw, sometimes in a veg stew. A lot of my meals are a big plate of steamed veg, with nothing added. I eat dairy, nuts and pulses, but no meat, and I stay a slim 8 and a half stone at 5ft 6ins. I am no more windy than a person who eats everything.

Food that goes through you quicker is better for your gut than stodge which hangs around for hours. The texture of the waste that comes out the other end is an indication of the type of diet you eat. Without getting too graphic, I never get constipated or suffer with diarrhoea.

Ilona

PS. I take no supplements.