Tolerating Veggies in the morning.

[jmc123]

I am currently on day 12 of my first Whole30.  I am trying to trust the process and follow the layout in the book.   I am struggling with veggies in the morning.  Literally gagging them down and trying not to throw up.  I was a "quick bowl of cereal" before Whole 30 gal.  Even if I wait a bit to eat, it still doesn't help.  I have no issues with veggies during other meals.  Here is what my meal plan looks like:

 

1st meal:  3 eggs cooked in ghee, 1/2 avocado, veggies (peppers or spinach in eggs, celery, baby carrots etc)

2nd meal:  Salad and a protein (tuna, chicken etc) with mayo or handful of cashews and olive oil dressing

3rd meal:  protein (fish, chicken, or beef), veggie, small salad with olive oil, 1/2 of an avocado

 

If I do crossfit in the morning I have 1 of the 1st meal eggs hardboiled before and then the rest of my meal after.  

 

Could I substitute berries for the morning veggies (trying to keep the fruit lower in fructose)?  Or does this happen to others and resolve after a bit?

 

Thanks!

[Tom Denham]

Berries are more nutritious than most fruits, but still not nearly as rich in the good things your body needs as any vegetables.

 

I have never had any issues with when I eat veggies, so I can't say if you might get over it with more practice. Others who have more food issues than me may have some helpful thoughts.

 

I wonder if you are getting more fat than you need at breakfast. Eggs deliver a good dose of fat and the ghee used for cooking a little. You probably don't need avocado at breakfast. I wonder if that would make eating the veggies easier.

 

Personally, I have developed a habit of eating fermented veggies at breakfast - scrambled eggs and a serving of cold sauerkraut or kimchi. The sour bite and coolness contrast nicely with hot eggs topped with hot sauce.

[melbournegirl]

It took me a week to get used to veges for breakfast. Now I don't even think about not having them. But my breakfast veges are often in the form of puréed soup with cooked meat, or chopped fine and cooked with ground turkey etc... Maybe you can experiment with different texture to see what suits best in the morning. I have had cooked breakfasts in the past but it is only now after 8 months of no grains that I am comfortable having sliced cucumber, carrot and avocado with breakfast if I am eating leftover protein and don't want to bother cooking.

[amberino21]

What about sweet potato - roasted is delicious! You say you have breakfast as your post training meal some days? This meal should be carb/protein so some chunks of sweet potato would be perfect

I have never had issues with vegies for meal 1 either - I'd suggest trying different textures too! What about incorporating vegies in to burger patties? I've made ones with cauli/broccoli and meat - lots of herbs and spices, and they're delicious!

[GFChris]

Rather than having veggies on their own, would you be better with them baked into a casserole or frittata?  If so, here's a couple options for you:
- Primal Breakfast Casserole (made with turnips): http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-breakfast-casserole/#axzz2aRIvjqHz

- Baked Asparagus and Pepper Frittata (to make this W30 compliant, substitute coconut milk for the cream and ghee for the butter): http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Baked-Asparagus-and-Yellow-Pepper-Frittata-101499

[jmc123]

I have never had sauerkraut but will give it a try.  I just added in the avocado the past few days on the advice of a coach at the gym (I was dying during early  workouts).  I will try leaving that for last or not eating it all together.  

 

Thanks!

[jmc123]

What about sweet potato - roasted is delicious! You say you have breakfast as your post training meal some days? This meal should be carb/protein so some chunks of sweet potato would be perfect

 

I've been staying away from sweet potatoes after a workout.  I have PCOS and am insulin resistant and have about 40lb to lose so based on the book it looks like they don't recommend those for me after a workout?  Maybe I am misunderstanding something.

[amberino21]

Someone else could correct me, but I think including some sweet potato or starchy vegetables would be good for energy.

You aren't having a postWO meal, so you're already missing a suggested meal on your workout days, and technically missing preWO as you split up your breakfast protein.

[Renee Lee]

The book has a graph of recommended carb levels based on your context (health, weight, activity level, etc), so you're right that you shouldn't be pounding back 3-4 sweet taters a day like many lean endurance athletes should be, but you still NEED the carbohydrates for energy if you're doing the CF.

 

Especially if you're struggling with your workouts in the morning, it's definitely something to experiment with.

[malie]

I have felt the same at times--choking down veggies at breakfast. Mostly I just make sure to have my favourites available for those meals and don't beat myself up if I can't get a full two cups or whatever down. One trick I use lots is to make homemade salsa with tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and cucumber, and dollop a ton of that over scrambled eggs and ground beef with some guacamole and hot sauce. Surprise veg attack!

Also we eat lots of fat at breakfast and find that makes a positive difference as far as staying satisfied until lunch time.

Good luck. And I do really recommend having your top favourite veggies at breakfast instead of struggling through lesser options!

[Vian]

One of my favorite breakfasts is a handful of chopped bell pepper, 2 diced scallions, a handful of diced mushroom caps sauteed in ghee. Then I add a couple big handfuls of baby spinach (frozen chopped spinach works too, just thaw it out and add about 1/2 cup) and toss it with the other veggies and season with salt and pepper(bacon is fantastic too if you can find compliant bacon). Then I crack 4 eggs into it and scramble them up.

[eronn_actually]

Are the veggies you mentioned cooked?  Even though I generally like most veggies, I find cooked ones much, much easier to eat than raw, especially for things like carrots.  Roasted carrots are much tastier, too!

[Bet]

I am also overweight and  I also believe I am insulin resistant. I've been eating a lot of sweet potatoes and not only have I lost weight (I haven't weighed myself, but I see the results) but I have stopped all low/high sugar swings. Don't be afraid of sweet potatoes.

[AmyS]

You might also look at what veggies you do like, and aim to eat those.  Most veggies that are sort of traditional breakfast veggies (green bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomato, spinach - stuff you'd stick in an omelette) don't appeal to me, at least not in that sort of traditional combination, and most especially not with eggs.  Disgusting.     But roasted sweet potatoes and/or carrots, and really, any roasted or very-well-steamed strong leafy green veggies served with, well, absolutely anything but eggs - not disgusting!  

 

In other words, experiment with which veggies, cooking method, and what you serve them with.

[jmc123]

Thanks everyone!