Low carb ideas please? 🤞

[Cissysparkels]

Good morning all. In an effort to try and lose weight I am going to try reducing my carb intake. But I am really stuck for ideas on what to eat instead of bread and potatoes!!! My go to is always a sandwich at lunch and I want to change this habit. Any suggestions would be fab! Thanks!

[lucigret]

I have replaced bread with lettuce boats. Little gems are perfect for stuffing with tuna or egg mayo, or cheese. I also make omelette or frittata , salads or soup and recently was told that roasted vegetables are lovely with some grated cheese melted on them.

As for potatoes, I use butternut squash, roasted, then mashed with butter, if I feel the need for mash. To be honest I really don’t miss potato. Just put extra veg on your plate. You soon adjust.

Take a look at Dietdoctor, they have some great recipes 😊

[Cissysparkels 2lbs in reply to lucigret]

Thank you so much. All of your suggestions sound yum! I really like the idea of the lettuce boats because then you still get to eat the sandwich fillings! I’m making a goats cheese, roast pepper and pine but salad for lunch today. 😋😊

[lucigret in reply to Cissysparkels]

Your lunch sounds lovely. I am just beginning to feel hungry and have to go into town before I can stop to eat 😳 My tuna salad sounds a bit boring now!

Have you found your way to the Daily Diary yet? You can find it in Events, instructions in your newbie pack with a visual guide as well. It's a great place to share your menu and get some feed back and also inspiration for other meals

I like lettuce boats as I like a crunch with my meals

[Cissysparkels 2lbs in reply to lucigret]

I’m at home today so had time to faff about with a fancy salad! Lol!

However then I don’t have time to do that is then I grab the carbs! I need to get organised, I think that is the key! 😀

[lucigret in reply to Cissysparkels]

organisation and batch cooking for the freezer for when time is limited

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Here's a post from a few months ago that might be useful healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

There are several low carb members who post on the Daily Diary so you could have a look to see what they're eating: they'll be happy to answer any questions.

You find some ideas here dietdoctor.com/low-carb

Sandwiches are so easy, aren't they? I could never have imagined life without bread and potatoes but, to reassure you, it's not only possible but enjoyable. My lunch is usually something egg based - omelette or frittata. I'm at home but if you're working frittata can be prepped in advance and eaten cold with a salad. Soups are also brilliant, especially this time of year. I do a broccoli and stilton one from BBC Good Food, just leaving out the potato and adding any other green veg I have in the fridge: half a litre/two bowls is a meal for me.

[Cissysparkels 2lbs in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thank you BridgeGirl. I really fancy making some frittata now. What kind of things do you out in yours? It’s a great time of year for soup too, I will try the broccoli and Stilton recipe. It is reassuring to know you have managed to survive without bread and potatoes too. 😁 I am just thinking a positive side of this could also be an increased veg intake. Win win! Lol!

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Cissysparkels]

My favourite starts with red onion, finely sliced, then sliced peppers (red, yellow or orange, or any combination), chorizo (I buy them in a pack of little ones that weigh 35gms) a few cherry tomatoes, two or three eggs and topped with grated cheddar. It's lovely and colourful.

I've also done bacon, mushroom and leek. I may have a go with smoked mackerel and something green.

I've just bought a bag of 'wonky' peppers from Morrison's - 7 for £1.45! Another dish I like is Shakshuka, so that will use up some peppers. Google it as I just cobble is together from onion, peppers, chilli, paprika and cumin, 1/2 tin of tomatoes, then drop an egg into the middle. You can add some feta or a blob of Greek yoghurt

[Cissysparkels 2lbs in reply to BridgeGirl]

Lots of good ideas, thank you! The chorizo frittata sounds really filling. We gave chickens so I’m going to see if there are any in the coop so I can make a frittata today. 😁 I’ll look up Shakshuka too x

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Cissysparkels]

Lucky you, having chickens

[Cissysparkels 2lbs in reply to BridgeGirl]

Lots of chicken poo though! 🙈😁

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Cissysparkels]

I'm sure there must be a use for that

[Cissysparkels 2lbs in reply to BridgeGirl]

Maybe the veggie patch. Not sure if it has to be old poo though. 😬

[cheeka112793]

I always eat a small dinner and take a "small plate" for the next days lunch. When I dont cook I always have a big bowl of salad I can dig into to pack for lunch.

[Cissysparkels 2lbs in reply to cheeka112793]

Great idea about a small dinner leaving enough for lunch the next. Saves on cooking and I’m all for that! 😁

[babss 2 stone]

You’re right, extra veg will do it!

It’s the texture you get from carbs that I think you need to replace too. I like roasting veg like broccoli to give it “bite”-I rarely steam it now. I have smoked almonds with cheese for a snack rather than biscuits, griddled courgettes with poached eggs instead of toast, cauliflower rice, courgetti or boodles instead of rice and pasta. There are recipes for low carb bread on diet doctor but I haven’t tried any.

[Cissysparkels 2lbs in reply to babss]

I actually had cauliflower rice for the first time the other day and I really liked it. 😍 Will definitely have it again.

I haven’t tried smoked almonds or roast broccoli before so I will definitely give them a try. Do you buy almonds already smoked babss?

[babss 2 stone in reply to Cissysparkels]

Yes, though sometimes as a bag of mixed nuts from Asda. The almonds on their own are harder to find

[babss 2 stone in reply to Cissysparkels]

I prefer cauliflower rice to normal now. Have not tried broccoli rice yet

[san_ray70 Maintainer]

Wraps are good, they come in wholemeal and low cal. sometimes I use ham and cheese and tomato wrapped with no bread, hard boiled eggs with tinned tomato is filling. All tinned fish in brine, salad no bread. Good luck anyway

[Cissysparkels 2lbs in reply to san_ray70]

Nice idea using the ham to roll up the cheese and tomato’s. I keep meaning to boil some eggs to keep in the fridge so I have something to grab. Love a cold boiled egg with a bit of salt in top. 😋

[djsapg]

Instead of pasta I eat courgette sliced in ribbons with veg peeler. For rice I use cauliflower. then I eat ryvitas if I want easy lunch. soup is quick I batch make it then freeze

[Cissysparkels 2lbs in reply to djsapg]

Do you cook the courgette ribbons djsapg? I’d like to try them. I have just bought some ryvita too, delish with some coop mushroom pate. 🤗 Definitely soup making weather now. Thanks for the ideas x

[djsapg in reply to Cissysparkels]

I slice courgetts with veg peeler then either stir through spag bog chilli or what ever eating with do this when it's hot or I fry in pan to just warm up. if you over cook they go mushy .they are ok to eat raw but cooking I think nicer. could microwave for a few secs too.

[Cissysparkels 2lbs in reply to djsapg]

Great thanks x