A new low-carb support thread for 2016

Don't think he will be brave enough to bring out a salad when out with his mates! Anyway I am not doing a trip to the supermarket today just because he decided on a diet the day after my tesco delivery

Well he can keep having the butter! When out and about I make up individual salads with filling stuff like avocados, ham, tomatoes, nuts, cheese, eggs etc. I wrap individual portions of cheese for snacks.
We love spicy food too (which can be a challenge in France!). Tonight we are having mackerel stuffed with a spice mix, salad and chickpea flour fritters.
Lunch was avocado, tomato and mozzarella salad.

It will be interesting to see how long he lasts. We have tried before as we met Barry Groves through our archery interests and he gave us a copy of his book. This must have been 15 years ago before low carb was 'fashionable'. But OH would not give up his bread and butter.

However, time has past and weight has gone up and he is worried about not living long enough to do all he wants. He is very reluctant to try new things but he likes spicy food so hopefully if I put enough chilli in he will eat anything.

Fresh foods are not so easily obtained here in the Highlands. Tesco do deliver but send me potty with the items NOT on their shopping list. There is a smaller Tesco about 18 miles away which I will try tomorrow.

What do I give him for a packed lunch tomorrow when his is out with the lads? Think he will just have to have sandwiches and make sure he eats no other carbs all day.

Love having this support thread ????

I don't think they can really Tizliz. Once you have lost the weight then you can add a few carbs back in, but I think it is easy to just go for it, with cauliflower mash and courgetti type things.
I have read about the re-heating idea and imagine it does break doen the starch in some way, but I haven't seen it included in any of the low-carb stuff that I have read.
Welcome to the thread btw.

My OH has decided he wants to try this diet and there is lots of info here, but I can't read 30 pages in one go. So sorry if this is a repeat question.

What is the general feeling on reheated potatoes and pasta? I have read that cooling and reheating changes the carbs but don't really understand. Can they then be included in the diet?

Thanks

Ooo same colour as mine. The red tagine club! (I have a Lacanche cooker in the same colour).
Copious amounts of wine will be drunk here on 24th whichever way it goes, but for different reasons.

I have a recipe for buns made from linseed flour which are only 2g of carb. Bit chewy but not unpleasant and freeze well. I made cheese on 'toast' using one cut in half and both sides with loads of lovely melted gouda. Yum yum.

I've ordered my tagine an EH one from Amazon, in a rich ruby colour. Can't wait. Thanks Mamie

Ha! Ha! lazi I'll be celebrating with water not drowing my sorrowes you cheeky what's it!! Whatever the outcome - must accept that's democracy

I only eat berries, especially strawberries at the moment as pippa says they're cheap (and tasty) just now. Our own will be ready soon down the allotment. Not a great fruit person otherwise, but love my veg. If I'm using something high carb (ish) eg sweet potato I just have a smaller portion. Tonight it's salmon baked with pesto, then a mixture of roasted veg (pepper, mushroom and red onion) and s smallish portion of sweet potato and butternut squash mash.

Lunch was a beefburger, wrapped in a big crunchy iceberg lettuce leaf. It's really worth giving that a try rather than a stodgy burger bun.

I am still surprised at which foods are high carb. I understand the pasta/wheat thing and root veg, but it is the other fresh foods. (have given up on bought crackers etc and now make my own) I have downloaded and Atkins low carb fruit.veg and nuts list which is stuck to the fridge, but it is very American, obviously and does not have a lot of the fresh veg, fruit or nuts which we are used to on. Does any one know of a UK one? Still watermelon, and other melons, and local strawberries which are very cheap here at the moment are a plesant change from the usual berries.

Thanks for Tagine info Mamie. Can only find EH ones on Amazon and they are about £80 so am saving up. Anya well done - I must admit not started yet. Will you be able to celebrate/drown sorrows quaffing water on 23rd June? You have to be a label reader on this low carb malarkey. I really fancied pork pie for lunch yesterday, felt guilty but had half, only 12 carbs. Usually have Matzo cracker with cheese and was horrified to see that 1 cracker = 16 carbs. Had no idea. Likewise porridge oats for breakfast, about 20 carbs. I always have low carb evening meal and thought that was enough, but will have to be more conscientious as weight down, but not blood sugar. Really appreciate this thread, thanks everyone.

I've often been tempted to buy a tagine, simply because they look so lovely! But I'm not sure that they do anything that the slow-cooker can't.

Good on you Pippa

No here ...I've another 93 days to go.

Strawberries sound lovely, Anya.
Well done on the swimsuit Pippa.
We are luckier than most here because we haven't had torrential rain just cold, gloom and drizzle.
We are having smoked salmon and scrambled egg for lunch and cassoulet tonight...
will also be needed.

Sorry to hear about all that horrible weather in northern Europe. Had a lovely day at the beach, we have visitors, 35 degrees, but the Mediterranean is still a bit chilly for me, though my friend did swim. Houlimmi salad for lunch and broccoli and Stilton soup for a late supper. Have had to order a new swim suit from Amazon as the one I bought last year is way too big

Dinner was followed by Scottish strawberries & cream.

Yes, there's a clue in your meals Mamie

We've had Hairy Bikers peppered steaks with mushrooms & salad. I forgot to eat lunch as I had a late breakfast of bacon, eggs, tomato & mushrooms...filled me up.

Weather here picked up at lunchtime

Soup for lunch and chilli con carne for dinner. Can you tell what the weather is like here? We are luckier than some though.

The 27cm is plenty big enough for two and would probably do four as well.
I agree that the GPs are probably catching on to low-carb because they have more contact on a day-to-day basis. I think it is really noticeable that the diabetes websites say one thing and their forums say another, the newspaper articles quote the pro-carb message and the comments underneath give solid, personal evidence about the benefits of low-carb etc. Fascinating.
We are limiting our outings at the moment, because we are not entirely sure that the fuel shortage is over, so monkfish from the freezer tonight. Will probably do the Spanish recipe with saffron, pinenuts and raisins with a cauliflower gratin. Lunch will be leftover aubergine cheesecake from last night. The salad from the garden is really good now and the globe artichokes are lovely. The tomato plants are sulking (and I don't blame them, it is horrible weather).

Oh thank you....that was helpful

Just popped down to the kitchen to measure it - ours is 26/27 cm (red).

Been looking at EH tagines ....is the 32cm the best size to buy?

Not sure how the word 'educator' popped in....iPad taking control again I suspect.

I'm very tempted.

Yesterday's Times had an article on the first page about low carb and type two diabetes, and it was continued inside with reference to our mutual 'friend' Dr David Irving. It would appear that more and more research is backing up this as an effective life style to reduced obesity and type 2 diabetes educator.

There was criticism of certain bodies who are digging their heels in and the usual comments from these institutions.

But it would seem that much of this drive towards less carbs is actually coming out of GP surgeries which I find interesting and encouraging. I wonder if it's because the GP and the practice nurse are on the front line and see these people again and again, and gave to deal with their obesity related illnesses on a daily basis?

Yes I think they are better. The seal is very tight and you hardly need any liquid at all. I tend to chop the veg and leave it in the spice mix for a bit, then you don't really even need to pre-cook any of it. We think you get an intensity of flavour that you don't get in a conventional casserole. We have an Emile Henri one that you can use on the hob as well.

I like the look of them too and there are some lovely colours, but concerned they may end up at the back of cupboard, like the Habitat chicken brick! They do take up quite a bit of room in the oven - are they better than casserole dishes for slow cooking?