Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

[FatBottomGirl]

okay I am REALLY not a big fan of lettuce - especially Iceburg so can I count raw spinach as part of my salad/veggies?

[ValidRouge]

Re: Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

Unfortunately, Spinach is on the 'other' vegetables list. So, we are limited to one cup per day during induction. After the 14 day induction, you can move into the Ongoing Weight Loss phase and have 5 net carbs of raw spinach, which is a LOT of spinach. And, mighty good for you too!

You don't have to eat 'lettuce' at all, even during induction. Frankly, you're better off not wasting your carbs on iceberg lettuce anyway. Dice up a cup of cucumber, mushroom, peppers, jicama, etc and get lots of texture, color and flavor as a 'salad' instead.

[FatBottomGirl]

Re: Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

Thanks ValidRogue! I think I will take up your suggestion!

[*Emma*]

Re: Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

I class spinach as a salad veggie, i understand that if its cooked its a lot more carbs, but i think that when its raw it should be on the salad veggie list.

and i could swear that i read somewhere that it did actually get moved.

[FatBottomGirl]

Re: Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

Emma -

I knew there was a reason I chose you as someone to inspire me Just in case I will give temp. give up the raw spinach until after induction and just stick with the cucumbers, mushrooms, etc...

[not2late]

Re: Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

Emma, Atkins Nutritionals moved spinach, cabbage and tomatoes to the "salad" list in their book, Atkins Essentials.

But as Joy said, there are plenty of veggies on the "salad" list. you don't have to eat lettuce at all if you don't want too!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

That's great, Megs! But, since we follow DANDR, do we get to use that change too????

(hoping the consensus is YES)

[*Emma*]

Re: Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

well i do!

edited to add: Well i do as far as raw spinach is concerned, tomatoes i would leave where they were, theyre pretty high carb!

[kate58]

Re: Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

Me too. Raw spinach, as far as I am concerned, is a salad veggie and I ate it as such while on induction and still do. Cooked is different and I count it as an 'other' veg. The volume difference between raw and cooked spinach so great that it is essentially impossible to treat them as the same thing.

[ttdriver]

Re: Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

I've always eaten spinach .. I LOVE IT!!! Especially sauteed in garlic and EVOO!!

Betty

PS .. Popeye never got fat off it either!

[rozigrl221]

Re: Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

I eat spinach as a salad veg too. Much better for you than lettuce.

[not2late]

Re: Raw Spinach versus Lettuce

The tomatoes thing----bad idea on the part of the ATkins people! It has a high glycemic index in addition to the higher carb amounts. But I think that those vegetables changes were to make Atkins more "user friendly".

As for spinach, it's a good vegetable but it's also a "goiterogen" , which means it can affect the thyroid by lowering its function. It also is a food associated with food allergies. (http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=43) Spinach also contains a chemical called an "oxalate", which can affect the kidneys and gallbladder, but if the spinach is cooked the oxalate is broken down so that effect is minimized (http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/cooked-spinach-better-for-health-than-raw-spinach-118206.html )

So like with any food, moderation is the key. That's why the most recent vegetable change by the Atkins people worries me a lot! Atkins Nutritionals Inc. is now saying during Induction you have to eat 12-15 net carbs of veggies. Well, that's okay, but they are allowing folks to choose any veggie from that list. So if a person chooses to eat 12 net carbs of lettuce, then they'll be eating a mountain-sized mound of lettuce----not a good way to teach proper serving sizes and it's not a good way to teach "eating until one is satisfied".