Support and ideas for those on low-carb diet

Yes, I agree with stillhere about chickpeas. If you do the strict "bootcamp" version of the diet you wouldn't eat them, but we went for a longer, slower weight loss and kept them in, in small quantities. We have beans too from time to time.
Let us know how the pizza goes Wilma, it sounds good.

I eat chickpeas, I love them just cold as a snack. I don't mind eating carbs that are also protein, such as beans and chickpeas and lentils and so on. I just don't eat as much of them as I would have done before. I no longer have a small piece of carrot in my houmous, I have a large carrot finger with a teeny bit of houmous! I suppose what you have to remember is that if you want to lose weight fast, or as a jump-start to a diet, the more carb you can cut out to start with, the better.

In the end, tonight, I had black beans in ratatouille, made into a sort of vegetarian chilli but no rice. Easy on the beans. I managed to stop myself from soaking twice as many this morning, it would have been so easy to sling an extra handful in.

stillhere I bought the tahini, but haven't opened the jar yet. I only found out recently it was in humus - I knew about the chickpeas though. I saw a recipe I fancied using tahini as a dressing. It was mixed with lemon juice and something else (can't remember just now).

But I am a bit confused about chickpeas because it seems to be grouped with pulses as 'don't eat', but I have seen quite a few lchf recipes using chickpeas - including the fritters on here. It would make things easier if I could include chickpeas because I have a couple of recipes I like which include them.

So what do you all think about using chickpeas?

Mamie being veggie does limit my options. Right now I just aim to have protein at every meal (usually eggs or cheese) and use full fat versions of any ingredients. I would like to use nuts as a source of protein, but DH has said he doesn't like that idea - some subterfuge needed me thinks! I do try to have a good mix of vegetables whilst sticking to the 'grows above ground' rule.

Tonight we had scrambled eggs done in the frying pan with feta cheese, onions, peas and tomatoes. It feels very strange using a frying pan full stop!

I have found two recipes I want to try. One is a quiche and the other is a pizza. The pizza base is made using cauliflower couscous and grated mozzarella with eggs used to bind the mixture. It should make a crisp base to which that you can then add toppings. Will let you know how it goes.

I will have a nosey on Mumsnet.

Glad it is going ok Wilma. I think it probably is a bit more of a challenge as a vegetarian because the rest of us can easily replace the carbs with veg, but that will often give you veg and veg! It might be worth checking the Mumsnet low-carb threads too because there are quite a few vegetarians on there. We eat vegetarian meals a couple of times a week, normally curries or tagines.
We have soup quite often for lunch, but also mixed salads, omelettes etc. If we are in a hurry we have chickpea-flour biscuits and cheese.
On Mumsnet they say KIKO - keep on keeping on!

I do, mostly in houmous. However - being an great experimenter (I ran out of tahini), I found that I can get away with using extra lemon juice and peanut butter! Tahini is, after only, only sesame seeds ground to a pulp.

Anya no fear of me wasting away due to lack of protein, it was a one-off day. I just ate what I fancied eating because I could, while DBH is away. It's lovely to be able to eat things I like and he hates, so I can wade my way through the globe artichokes without having to cook him something else. Besides - I'm sure there must be a little protein in the bar of chocolate I have to eat lots of protein, being coeliac, apparently. I'm not vegetarian, I just don't eat much meat, I prefer fish.

Yesterday I went to the market and succumbed to a large pot of jellied eels for lunch, I had it with a basil and tomato salad. He would have hated that.

Greek yoghourt with almond slivers and lemon juice for breakfast this morning. Lunch will be a dressed crab and mixed salad. Tonight will probably be a vegetable omelette with mangetouts, which are still growing and having the best year I have ever known.

It's a bit of a struggle Mamie. It's not because I have cravings for the wrong things, but because very few of our previous meals we would eat on a regular basis fit the lchf way of eating. So, much more planning is needed, but I am enjoying the research. Also, when I find a recipe I like, I'm missing some important ingredient, so I'm buying new store cupboard items (foolishly I thought had just about everything).

I made my first ever stir fry last night using the recipe out of the Rose Elliot book. It was a partial success, but that's down to the fact that I bought the wrong tofu.

Tonight was a great success though. I made roast broccoli with cauliflower couscous and runner beans.

I roasted the broccoli in olive oil and lemon juice. Stir fried the cauliflower couscous and then tossed everything in grated Parmesan cheese, salt and ground black pepper. Served with the runner beans it made a delicious meal. That makes it on to the regular list - first one!

Tesco have a 3 for 2 offer on certain prepared vegetables and I spotted the cauliflower couscous which I've never seen before. So I bought that, the broccoli and runner beans (steam in the bag) for £2.00. No waste and clean plates!

Dessert was Greek yogurt and summer fruits.

Need to find some quick and easy lunches. Soup will be one when I find a tasty recipe. I am awkward veggie because I don't like peppers or most mushrooms (I do like some of the fancy ones, but can't remember the names!).

Does anyone use tahini?

Can't remember. Do ya?

Do I come here often?

Or up.

Don't be confused.

In the hashtag several yards down the thread.

Now I'm totally whose who's are you talking about jingl ?

Ana I treated myself to a few marzipan fruits when I was away. They just tasted sour. Gave them to DH. A major pleasure hits the dusts.

Sorry for hijack folks.

Btw, that should have been 'who's' not 'whose'.

#ageingbrainnothingtodowithtreacle

I feel for you jngl - my 'bit of trouble' is still there...

(and [angry!])

Huh! Innocent little merlot.

#whosetalkingwaterpistols

Bet you feel really bad for mocking the afflicted now.

jingl, could you please fill it with gin and not water?

I haven't had a golden syrup sandwich in months now. Can't taste anything sweet any more with my "bit of trouble".

We're so busy with the final stages of building our granny pad that lately our meals have been very samey and boring.

I am so looking forward to using my new kitchen and having the time to grow veg again next year.

It's been a bit of a slog but the end is in sight [phew emoticon]

Or on the keyboard?

Amend your pistol? Golden syrup on the brain?

Pistol......love some of these auto-corrects!

NOT MY PISTOL!!!! My post.

(will not resort to shooting 'em. will not...)

I tried to amend my pistol to 'sensible' Wilma but my internet went down, and then I forgot.

Golden syrup sarnies if you please Mamie. Treacle is fine in Xmas cakes. Not so fantastic on bread.

Perhaps she has shares in Hovis or Tate and Lyle