I've been having some trouble staying on this diet-- one of the big reasons is that I really dislike most vegetables. The only ones I can eat on a regular basis are green beans and salad vegetables, like lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, onions, etc. I can eat brocolli for a couple of weeks at a time until it starts to repulse me. I know that I should stick mostly to favorable carbs, but it's so hard when I don't like the majority of them. Even the ones I like get a little tiring night after night after night. I'm hypoglycemic, so I want to try to stay away from getting too many carbs from unfavorable or fruit sources (although I love fruit!) Does anybody else have a similar problem? Did you find a way to work around it? I would really appreciate your suggestions! I know I will never stay on this diet if I have to choke down asparagus! Thanks, Meredith

[quote:5da02f2635="merryberryq"]I've been having some trouble staying on this diet-- one of the big reasons is that I really dislike most vegetables. I know I will never stay on this diet if I have to choke down asparagus! Thanks, Meredith[/quote:5da02f2635] Personally, I love asparagus! However, Mushrooms and onions are good. How about black beans? They're only 1/4 cup per block. I eat them cold with some salsa, cold with some oil and vinnegar, warm with some horseradish, warm with some sour cream, warm with some salsa, etc. Sometimes we'll have some rice or mashed potatoes (1/4 cup) as an additional block (I know unfav) or better yet, a glass of wine - unfav - but has other benefits. Then I have the occasional unsweetened applesauce, I know uyou need to stay away from fruit, but once-in-a-while. Just some thoughts.....

Its not that I do not like vegetables- but they can just be difficult to eat due to the preparation and volumes you need to eat. I find that I end up eating a lot of fruit instead. There are many days I eat no vegetables and just fruit as my favorable carbs. The trick is to choose fruit with low blood sugar affects (low GI). Grapefruit have a GI lower than many vegetables. Likewise strawberries, raspberries, blue berries and apples have GI values compareable to many vegetables. Other foods with GI about tthe same as vegtabels include barley and fructose. I know there are others- but this is what comes to mind. I also agree with the black bean idea- that is my primary vegetable. It works well when you make a big pot of chili once a week and can bring it along for lunch.

[quote:d856442ea6="stonehousemc"]... I find that I end up eating a lot of fruit instead. There are many days I eat no vegetables and just fruit as my favorable carbs. The trick is to choose fruit with low blood sugar affects (low GI). Grapefruit have a GI lower than many vegetables. Likewise strawberries, raspberries, blue berries and apples have GI values compareable to many vegetables. ... I know there are others- but this is what comes to mind.[/quote:d856442ea6] I also like fruit. You can get grocery brand whole, frozen blueberries and strawberries, at a fairly reasonable price. (No sugar added!) I eat them (microwave defrosted) with lo / no fat yogurt (and some protein powder with a dash of olive oil) for breakfast. Since we have long, cold winters, fresh fruit is not an option much of the year.

[quote:979c56a914="stonehousemc"]... I find that I end up eating a lot of fruit instead. ... I know there are others- but this is what comes to mind.[/quote:979c56a914] For lunch I might have an apple and a clementine. (3 blocks C). Easy to take to work, and I do not need to refrigerate them between 5:30 am when I leave for work and 11:30 am when I eat lunch.

Thanks to everyone who replied-- I do like black beans and mushrooms-- I forgot to mention those, Jay. However, it takes soooo many mushrooms to make up even one carb. I also find that black beans sometimes spike my blood sugar, although I still eat them in small amounts. I guess I will have to stick to the low-glycemic fruits and just cross my fingers! Thanks again, Meredith

John- sorry I called you Jay. I was thinking of another post!

[quote:ab22816f0a="merryberryq"]I've been having some trouble staying on this diet-- one of the big reasons is that I really dislike most vegetables. The only ones I can eat on a regular basis are green beans and salad vegetables, like lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, onions, etc. I can eat brocolli for a couple of weeks at a time until it starts to repulse me. I know that I should stick mostly to favorable carbs, but it's so hard when I don't like the majority of them. Even the ones I like get a little tiring night after night after night. I'm hypoglycemic, so I want to try to stay away from getting too many carbs from unfavorable or fruit sources (although I love fruit!) Does anybody else have a similar problem? Did you find a way to work around it? I would really appreciate your suggestions! I know I will never stay on this diet if I have to choke down asparagus! Thanks, Meredith[/quote:ab22816f0a] Hi, I've never been a big fan of veggies, either, btu now eat a wide variety. Also, I'm carb sensitive (as it sounds you are) so all fruits dont work for me. Here are some of teh things that work for me: Spaghetti sauce on cauliflower garbanzo's (have a low GL) browned in a pan with onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper yellow squash sauteed with tomatoes, black beans, red pepper, tomato and chili powder chili hummus Sausage sauteed with thinly sliced red pepper, green pepper and onions Green peppers stuffed with ground meat, onion, and barley Tuna salad stuffed into tomatoes cottage cheese served with tomato wedges and guacamole Hope this helps. Sue

[quote="stonehousemc"] Other foods with GI about tthe same as vegtabels include barley and fructose. I know there are others- but this is what comes to mind. Well I learn something new every day! I did not realise that fruit was to be eaten in moderation ( or avoided?) But hey... isnt fructose the sugar that comes from fruit? then how come fruit should be avoided but fructose is low GI? O boy! Now i'm confused Top

It was more of a general comment, as typically vegetables have lower GI-values (that is a lower blood sugar response and therefore less insulin). However- that is not always true as I believe carrots have a very high GI (although it is not likely you will eat enough to matter anyway.). Likewise- fruit like watermelon and bananas can have high GI-values. Fruit seems to have more of a range in GI-values than vegetables however- so you really need to watch it on some of them. However, a good many of them are favorable and can be your only source of carbs over a day (although variety is still good). Things like apples, grapefruit, pears, and stawberries can be limiteless (as long at to still follow the rules and don't over eat them. I'd say- if you just follow the lists of favorable carbs you'll be fine. Notice on the unfavoragel lists- you'll find some fruits too though. Some people are very sensitive to foods with higher GI-values- and therefore try to eat mostly vegetables as they typically have the lowest values. This could have a lot to do with the amount of fiber in them. These people almost need a new catagory or favorable- like super-highly favorable. I'm not sure why fructose is so low but some fruits are still have higher GI. Ulitmately it comes down to how fast they can be digested. Sometimes that has to do with surface area (higher surface areas allow for faster digestion) If you are confused- just follow the lists. If you want the details- then it could help to read more on the Glycemic index. There are some books and here is a web site: http://diabetes.about.com/library/m...ilists.htm