Thoughts on roasted/sauteed veggies -- sugar crutch?

[heatherhactenus]

Hi everyone! I hope I'm using the appropriate topic for this question. I am new to the forums and am on Day 2 of my very first Whole30. (If all goes well, it will be the very first time I've successfully implemented a healthy nutritional change for myself for longer than 2 weeks -- I've given up on myself so many times in the past!) For veterans of this lifestyle, I wanted to ask a question:

 

So far, most of my meals have included roasted veggies. Roasted baby carrots/parsnips in particular were one of my faves, and I know I'll be a fan of roasted sweet potatoes/squash too (not to mention sauteed onions and mushrooms). As someone who is coming into this program with a major case of sugar addiction/a lifetime of unhealthy food habits/morbid obesity, and a simultaneous case of not eating nearly the amount of veggies that I should, what are your thoughts on whether I should be forcing myself to eat more raw things that I might not like as much but which aren't as caramelized? The calorie content/nutritional value of those baby carrots, for example, MUST change at least a little bit for the worse after I put them in the oven for 40 minutes and they come out tender and shiny brown on the bottom; they seem to transform into more of a "finger food" (but they do still help to fill me up as part of a complete meal, so I'm hesitant to categorize them as 'food-with-no-brakes').

 

I'm conflicted over whether I should be happy that I am eating vegetables and actually enjoying them (and adjusting my palate to enjoy the 'natural sweetness' to be found in healthy foods), or is this me finding a loophole to still have playdates with the 'sugar dragon'? Should I be focusing heavily on raw or steamed veggies instead, even though I know I won't like them as much and the switch could be a little unmotivating?

 

Maybe I'm overthinking it, and I'd like to think that my eating vegetables no matter WHAT form they are in, as long as they are prepared using W30-compliant ingredients, is a good thing. And it's not like I'm asking permission to eat a Paleo cupcake; I'm not roasting/frying these veggies with the cognitive intention of making them a "substitute" for fries or anything like that. But if this is going to set me up for behavioral trouble, I'd rather make the adjustments earlier in my W30 rather than later, as I don't want to get to the end and realize that I was just crutching along the whole time.

 

Loaded question(s), I know. Any thoughts?

[ShannonM816]

You might find this article helpful: http://whole9life.com/2012/08/carrot-train-to-crazytown/

Definitely try new and different vegetables and new and different ways to prepare them, because variety is good, but as long as you're eating vegetables, you're good. Whole30 isn't about punishment or torture, we like when you enjoy healthy food.

[SpinSpin]

There is nothing at all wrong about eating your veggies roasted or cooked. Many are more nutritious cooked than raw and many are easier on the system as well. Just try some new veggies-some really come into their own cooked! I often roast sweet potatoes and winter squash, zucchini and mushrooms, carrots, brussel sprouts, parsnips, broccoli and cauliflower--sooo yummy! Grilled as veggie kabobs are also good. 

[Hannlib]

No. They are VEGETABLES. Eat up!!

[MeGA"gardener"]

Hi Kweeky

I'm no expert I'll let the Mods weigh in here

You could also read http://forum.whole9life.com/topic/28245-crunch/#entry298727

I'd say it's okay I've been eating this way since Ma 4 th

Do you include greens in your meals? Variety as above is the key to a nutritionally balanced meal

If you feel it's not a FWOB feeling and your are satisfied with the proper amount it's fine

But if eating those carmalised bits is filling an old

Craving I'd have a smaller portion and include greens asparagus cruciferous veg stir fry Bol Choy or crunchy vegs too

Good luck!

[heatherhactenus]

Thank you, everyone! And @ShannonM816, that was JUST the article I needed to read!

[ultrarunnergirl]

Veggies: Pure, Guilt-Free Pleasure!! Enjoy!

[Rebe_J]

Veggies: Pure, Guilt-Free Pleasure!! Enjoy!

 

Yes.

[Sleeve]

If you like sauteed mushrooms and onions, add some spinach.

 

Burn some onions in coconut oil over medium high heat then sweat out some mushrooms.  Shovel in garlic until you'd be embarrassed if someone saw your plate, then hit it all with more coconut oil.

 

Shut off the heat, take the pan off the stove, add spinach and a healthy squirt of lemon juice.  Stir it for a minute tops and it's food.

 

Two things you love, plus one green leafy.

 

I'm gonna go eat a bag of baby carrots now.  The need for a glycemic load 3 food is pushing me over the edge, man.

[heatherhactenus]

If you like sauteed mushrooms and onions, add some spinach.

 

Burn some onions in coconut oil over medium high heat then sweat out some mushrooms.  Shovel in garlic until you'd be embarrassed if someone saw your plate, then hit it all with more coconut oil.

 

Shut off the heat, take the pan off the stove, add spinach and a healthy squirt of lemon juice.  Stir it for a minute tops and it's food.

 

Two things you love, plus one green leafy.

 

@Sleeve that's actually exactly what I've been trying to do more of as I've turned the corner into Week 2 -- if my main veggies for a particular meal are all cooked using oil, especially if it's something that I'm sauteeing all in one pan on my stovetop, I'll add in a big handful of baby spinach towards the very end (or slide the contents of the pan onto a bed of fresh uncooked spinach before eating), so that I really feel like I've gotten some green. There's something psychologically positive about knowing that I "ate my greens," even if they're not necessarily the main event!

 

In other news, I made my very first batch of homemade mayo today (can you believe it took until Day 8?), and dipping roasted carrot sticks into it brought them to a whole 'nother level! YUM.