Carb Free Menu Items

[lynne]

With the large number of people that are going carb-free or low carb, are any of you out there coming up with a new side alternative? a second veg? advertise or promote a full dish that is carb-free? or do you just leave off the carb and have an incomplete looking dish (because it has lost the flow when it lost a component)? How many of you make up for it?

This was a breakfast discussion recently among our guests-

[SeattleDeb]

Are people still doing that high protein low carb diet? I thought it was just a passing fad. Do you see that a lot at your B&B Lynne?

[Pastachef]

I see it now and then at the college. It used to be a very popular diet. But the kids were always starving! It was a real pain in the #$%@, and frightful for the budget, because I couldn't fill them up!

[SeattleDeb]

I knew a lot of folks on it a few years ago who are now off (and have gained the weight back)....I just like the idea of lots of exercise and eating sensibly.

[lynne]

SeattleDeb,

We had wedding parties the last couple of weekends, families of which were still doing the high protein, low carb "thang".

This month everyone seems to be into the Sugar Addicts diet. Low sugar, plenty of protein, the more complex the carb, the better.

[Mezzaluna]

I gained weight on a low fat eating plan, time after time. Now I limit the carbs and am losing- plus, my cholesterol and triglycerides are greatly improved. I'm not selling this as a miracle for everyone, but it's working for me. More people are now overweight, despite the cultural emphasis on low fat in recent years. Enough of that...

I make some delicious vegetable sides. One of the ChefTalk Cafe members, Molly, has fabulous recipes, which she has shared. A quick one I do is to steam or microwave fresh or frozen cauliflower or broccoli until very tender (more done than we usually make veggies these days). Then, I drain it and add (per pound of vegetable) 2 or 3 ounces cubed cream cheese, 1/3 cup heavy cream, and a couple of pats of butter. I season with salt and pepper, and maybe a dash of nutmeg. Then I blend with a stick blender and reheat if necessary. It's also good put in a buttered casserole, sprinkled with parmesan, and baked 20 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

Before I ever heard of low carb, I enjoyed a vegetable stew my mom made when our garden went crazy. It contained zucchini and yellow squash chunks, quartered fresh mushrooms, roughly chopped onion and herbs (dill, basil, garlic). I guess if you added tomato and eggplant, you'd pretty much have ratatouille.

I substitute shreds of zucchini or cooked spaghetti squash for pasta. Or, make thin egg pancakes, shred and use as pasta. There are lots of good recipe sites out there. I'll find some and post here for those who are interested.

[SeattleDeb]

Oh, I'd really miss bread and pasta on the low carb...Lynne is that the Sugar Busters diet????

Maybe I need that one..I really have a major sweet tooth!

[ May 16, 2001: Message edited by: SeattleDeb ]

[Mezzaluna]

Here you go: http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/lowcarb-recipes.html

There are lots and lots there!

Sugarbusters allows reasonable amounts of whole grains and fruits, which most other plans don't. I believe their emphasis is to cut out refined sugars and try to stick as much as possible to unprocessed foods. I am on Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Plan (CALP), which allows carbs one meal per day, balanced with veggies and protein. Carbs can be fruit, carby veggies, whole grains or "junky" carbs like mac and cheese. I stick to whole foods for my carbs (sweet potatoes, whole grains, fruits). Works for me, but maybe not for everyone. Others do Atkins, which restricts carbs very, very strictly. Didn't work for me, but does for my physician brother. Incidentally, we both check blood levels for excess protein to monitor it for kidney changes. No problem after 1.5 years for me.

[ May 16, 2001: Message edited by: Mezzaluna ]

[SeattleDeb]

Great site Mezz...I agree with keeping the carbs down..I may have been confused with the diet..the one people were on here was the high protein..they were eating tons of cheese, bacon, steaks, etc....like crazy...and low carbs.

[Mezzaluna]

Some people, especially on Atkins, do eat like that. My brother does, and his cholesterol/lipid levels dropped low enough to get off Lipitor. My plan allows a low/moderate fat option if people choose. It's not high protein, it's low carb; there is a difference.(I didn't lose much on Protein Power.) I eat moderate levels of fat because I like bacon and cheese, and it is not harming me. But believe me, I don't eat like that every day. Moderation in all things, after all! I eat a lot of poultry, lean beef and pork, and veggies. Every other day or so I eat polenta, a sweet potato, or fruit with my protein/veggie dinner. Some days I eat an extra fruit or carb, and if I don't do it too many days in a row, no problem.

[ May 16, 2001: Message edited by: Mezzaluna ]

[kokopuffs]

A high protein diet, on the other hand, can be destructive to the kidneys. It's also very taxing on the liver.

The diameter of the filtering pores of the kidneys are slightly smaller than protein molecules. So as the protein molecules pass thru on their way to the bladder, they "wear out" the pores. Hence, severe protein loss and ultimate kidney failure.

Americans have the highest protein consumption and the highest rate of kidney failure in the world. It's best to limit daily meat consumption to a volume equivalent to the size of a single chicken breast, approximately 4 ounces.

[ May 17, 2001: Message edited by: kokopuffs ]

[Mezzaluna]

Kokopuffs, both my brother and I get BUN and creatnine (sp?) tests done periodically to assure our kidneys are fine. They are normal. High protein diets are chancy for those with kidney disease or who are predisposed to it, far less so for the majority with normal function. In any case, I am not on a high protein regime; I have replaced most of my carbs with veggies, not meat or protein products. My final word: low carb is not for everyone. Check with your doctor.

I'm not a doctor but I play one on TV...

Since I put my husband and myself on a low-carb diet the results have been amazing. Hubby has lost 20 pounds in three mos. That's exactly what was needed. I'm into swimsuits I haven't worn in years. We're not starving, we're not hurting and we still get cheat days - one pasta meal a week, which is hard for an Italian! We supplement our protein with great veggies and have learned to LOVE salads. The "bad" carbs are gone and our bodies show it. We eat real meals, don't get hungry between meals and no longer snack. We're not hungry because our bodies have something with which they can work. But don't do any diet change till you check with your doctor.

[kokopuffs]

Waddya' all mean by low carb diet? You all seem to "substitute vegetables" for the carbs. Vegetables are, indeed, carbohydrates, including - in some cases - simple sugars and proteins.

What are the carbohydrates that you're eliminating?

[mudbug]

kokopuffs,

Low-Carb Diet Guidelines

It is important to point out that, for most people, the only foods that are NEVER allowed on a low-carbohydrate diet are those containing white flour and/or sugar (including honey). Although grains and breads are on the "Not Allowed" list, people who are on a weight-maintenance diet, non-obese diabetics, or those who can tolerate a few additional carbs and still lose weight, may eat a limited amount of grain products. The same applies to fruits. Most fruits are restricted, but some fruit (other than watermelons and bananas) is allowed as long as it does not produce weight gains.

The number of grams of carbohydrates allowed per day varies greatly with the individual. Some people need to keep their carb count to 20 grams or less per day to lose weight. Others may successfully lose weight on 50 or 60 grams per day. Non-obese diabetics may eat as much as 100 grams of complex carbs per day. But remember, just because you are allowed to eat 20 grams (or 50, or 60) of carbs per day doesn't mean that you can eat those in the form of sugar or starch. Make sure every gram of carbohydrate you eat is the healthier complex carbohydrates found in vegetables or whole grains. And be especially careful that your carbohydrates come from foods that have a low glycemic index.

from: Low-Carb Pavilion -- Diet Guide

For more information on any aspect of this topic, check out the Low-Carb Diet Information Clearinghouse. It has Low Carb Diet News, recipes, pros, cons, polls, etc...