Okay, I know that the book says to eat 2-3 cups raw veggies and 1 cup cooked. Can that be reversed? Can I eat all cooked veggies? Reason asking is that I am not much of a salad person. If I have to I will, but not sure on the reasoning behind the raw vs cooked.

Thanks!

__________________

The veggies do not have to be raw. However, as with any cooked veggie, try to avoid cooking the nutritional value out of them.

__________________
Henry

Ditto Henry!

Personally, I never paid any attention to stuff like that in the book; eat your veggies however you like them, just be sure to EAT THEM!
In fact, I don't even limit my veggies (although I try not to eat the really high-sugar ones too often); I consider veggies a "free food."

__________________
Summer

I'm like you - salads are ok once in a while, but I don't want one every day. But some veggies you consider "cook only" are good raw. I make a chopped veggie salad with diced zucchini and yellow squash, and then any other veggie you like, perhaps celery, or bell peppers, and mix with an Italian dressing (or any other non-creamy dressing) and let marinate for a while. And a little of this salad goes a long way. I've never tried it with creamy dressing, like ranch. It might be good. And just before you serve the salad, you might add a little diced mushrooms for a little zing. I wouldn't add them before; they might get soggy.

__________________
Nita

From everything I've researched, the reasoning behind eating raw vegetables versus cooked is that it takes your body more time to digest the raw foods -- thus, it works harder -- thus, increasing your metabolism -- thus, more weight loss.

I've tested this theory and have found it to be true. Not only does it take me longer to chew the raw salad stuffs, thus making me work harder for the food, it provides the greater amount of fiber for my body.

Hope this helps.

__________________
April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

Ditto what April said. That's been my experience, anyway. Fortunately, I love raw veggies. I've been known to sit down in front of the TV with a bag of spinach for snacking.

__________________

sprinkle in those raw veggies any way you can... munch on celery sticks or pepper sticks, munch on raw cauliflower or broccoli, can dip in dressing if you wish or just pop in mouth and munch away.... mini tomatoes are good, anything you eat cooked you can eat raw, don't look at it as salad, look at it as eating something different. Some days I too get tired of salad for lunch and will just cut up some cukes and tomatoes, and munch on them while I eat some protien....

__________________
http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak
carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03 327/268/177
5/20/08/ - 348
onward thru the fog

I hear what you guys are saying, but I really don't like raw veggies. I can't stomach a cup of them. I guess I will be doing good if I eat 3 cups any way I can!

__________________

Yes, that is what I was saying... it is definitely BETTER for you to eat them raw (for all of the benefits mentioned above), but if you absolutely can't tolerate it, then eat them cooked. Just try not to cook the fool out of them.
But still, just get them any way you can. NO SKIMPING!

Summer

__________________
Summer

If you can't stomach them raw (and lettuce/tomato is all I usually eat raw), try steaming them for about 2-3 minutes. Steamed broccoli and asparagus (with some butter or hollandaise) is very tasty and a great part of this woe.

__________________
Sven
305/218/200
Start Date: 1/1/06

Welcome to low-carb eating.
The food's not bad here.