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I went through a phase where I was only using vegetables as condiments to my protein/fat, but I began to feel like crap. I increased my vegetable consumption up to two pounds daily and I am feeling better. I'd like to know how much vegetables the typical paleo eats. In another thread I noticed someone mention that they eat close to 1000 grams.

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Were you not eating any starches? Just meat and fat? – Edward J. Edmonds Jun 20 2011 at 0:35
If indeed you weren't eating starches perhaps you feel better because you've increased your carbohydrate intake through eating vegetables and you feel better because there is more glucose for your body to use. – Edward J. Edmonds Jun 20 2011 at 1:07
some people do well on LC or VLC and some people don't. Sounds like you do better with lots of carbs. In the end, n=1 is the only experiment that matters. – Leanne Jun 20 2011 at 3:45

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I don't eat any vegetables as a source of significant calories.

I've always felt loosely that vegetables e.g. spinach, broccoli, etc. or things that grow above ground that aren't fruit, are not the most optimal food sources. I guess in a survival situations I could see myself eating some leaves and tree bark and drinking my own urine but outside of that I don't eat vegetables outside of seasoning.

My guiding light has always been: meat, roots, and fruits. I have a tendency to look at things from a self-sustainability point-of-view. I'm not into primal reenactment plays, but I'm into thinking about things like: Would I rather spend my primal day bent over in a field picking 1000 calories of spinach leaves or do I want to pick a potato, stab a deer, and climb a tree and call it a day? (Plus digging, killing, and climbing are all fun things to do) Of course those days I can't find anything some blades of grass will have to do but most of the time I'd prefer something a little more satisfying.

Of course I may be somewhat biased, I remember as a kid sitting at the dinner table all night refusing to eat my vegetables.

Also keep in mind that botanically bell peppers are fruits.

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Why did this have a downvote? But I agree. I do a lot of starchy vegetables, but not too many leafy greens anymore. Partially because I'm just too lazy to prepare them, and I hit all the rdas with said starchy veggies, meat, and fruit. – mari Jun 20 2011 at 0:34
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Anytime you make a point that challenges the temporal Paleo dogma you'll get down voted that's just part of democracy and natural selection. For example I remember a time when Paleo was all about meat and fat. Now everybody in the popular Paleo information distribution machine is doing a 180 on the carbohydrate issue now that they are figuring out that for most people it's not optimal. – Edward J. Edmonds Jun 20 2011 at 1:03
Arent roots typically high carb vegetables, so im not sure you can claim to be challenging temporal Paleo Dogma? – PaleoMouth Jun 20 2011 at 22:28
You're going to have to elaborate--that was part of the point about the roots--that they are typically dense in carbohydrates. – Edward J. Edmonds Jun 21 2011 at 5:29
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I eat vegetables whenever I crave them. :)

Some days, I simply do not want any vegetables. Other days, I could easily put away a pound or two in one sitting.

Yesterday, for instance, I was craving sauteed bell peppers and onions like a madwoman. I wound up eating a huge dish of fajitas (sans tortillas, of course) and was completely satisfied. Today, I haven't had any veggies, but I think my dinner will consist of a huge salad to go with my grilled sirloin tonight. Two days ago, it was spinach in my scrambled eggs and I grazed on some raw veggies while I prepped my fella's stir-fry. It varies, really.

Right now, my cravings are driving me toward huge salads, but last month, I couldn't get enough of steamed broccoli and zucchini. On average, however, I typically go through a couple pounds a week, plus or minus.

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I agree I eat veggies as I crave them. Lately I love onions, mushrooms and eggs for breakfast. I don't normally eat any other veggies except maybe for dinner. Dinner usually is a salad, a squash, spinach or something like that. I love fruit and can't go a day with out. – Lisa Jun 20 2011 at 0:36
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don't sweat the numbers. i build my main meals on veggies and meat with some kind of fat. i don't weigh the portions or anything like that. just keep your plate full of meat and veggies and you'll be good.

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Almost no vegetables or fruit at all. I've never liked vegetables.

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sporadically - either to restore leptin/insulin sensitivity (starch) or to 'clean up the system' (fiber)

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thus, considering i have only one meal a day, i'm either completely carnivorous (meat/eggs/fish) or completely veg*n

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Half a plate vegetables, half a plate of meat. Every meal, every day. Fiber is important.

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Why is fiber important? – Redshift Jun 20 2011 at 1:35
For myself, maintaining hydration, 3 liters a day, and consuming vegetables (the fiber) provides daily bowel movements that keep the lower intestines clean. This is where the absorption of nutrients happen within the body. If the lower intestines are lined with fecal matter, the benefits of clean eating are delayed or may not occur at all. – James Jun 25 2011 at 16:15
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I try and eat vegetables at every meal. Each meal I eat a large amount of meat or eggs and an equal or larger amount of vegetables.

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I ususally have veggies as a side for lunch and dinner. Mostly broccolli, carrots, mushrooms and spinach.

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24 ounces of starch from potatoes daily.

8 oz carrots pretty daily.

And 6-8 ounces of broccoli or cauliflower daily.

All comes to about 250 grams carbohydrate per day.

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Too far beyond this with any non-starchy veg and I feel digestion is compromised. Starch I feel you can really pack in easier. – ben61820 Jun 20 2011 at 1:23

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