A new low-carb support thread for 2016

There's nothing odd about psyllium husks, or chia seeds (which also turn to jelly and stick things together) and you can also buy a cassava starch through amazon that works very like Xanthan gum. Some people do have trouble with Xanthan gum, if they have nervous tummies, but it's harmless for the vast majority.

chriskresser.com/harmful-or-harmless-xanthan-gum/

The chia seeds intrigue me. I bought some, hearing that they are one of the Must Have Superfoods. I followed the instructions to soak it and wondered if I'd been sold a cross between wallpaper paste and frogspawn. H'mmmm.... still not convinced about it, but that's because I haven't tried it much beyond trying to hide it in some homemade muesli several weeks ago. The texture and taste will maybe grow on me one day! How do you use them and how do you 'stick things together'? You mean as in thickening casseroles?

Just had the most delicious dinner. White fish with orange and fennel from the 5:2 book. Unfortunately I failed to notice it said serves four. DH and me ate it all. Fasting tomorrow ?

Sounds delicious! We have been enjoying the sunshine (but not the lawn mowing) and have succumbed to wine, barbecued veal chops and Greek salad, followed by a lump of blue cheese. Still too chilly to eat on the terrace though....

Fell off the wagon a bit yesterday but I'm determined to resist today, though I'm going out to lunch with a friend.

No pud for me, unless it's red fruits! And no chunky chips either.

Rowan I eat out often and endeavour to make it as easy as possible to stick to low-carbing.

For example I never/rarely go to a teashop, cafe type of place as I know all that will be on offer is sandwiches, pies, pastas, etc. I aim for 'Modern European/English' style places, or a good gastro-pub - they're likely to have fish/meat, interesting vegetables and salads.

A whole lemon sole, or top quality burger, with veg/salad does me fine! And wine

Did your will power hold out Rowantree?

I'm still thinking of that apricot and pistachio pudding Rowan had.

Partly, Anya! I had a starter as a main: prawn, lobster and avocado salad - didn't eat the bread. Small glass of wine, but succumbed to a mini pud of passion fruit Eton mess. Cream and fruit OK, I guess, bits of meringue not - but it was a small one!

In the evening I had a couple of poached eggs, tomatoes, beetroot, avocado, a plum and natural yoghurt , so not too bad. Today's a Fast day but I don't feel that well: dull pain/discomfort on RHS under my ribs. I have a hiatus hernia and mild diverticulosis (not to be confused with diverticulITIS ) so wonder if that could be responsible. Also notice discomfort after coffee sometimes, so I'm wondering if it's one of my 'don't-go-to' things....pity, as I love the smell and taste of real coffee!

The diet doctor has this to say about wine
"Even on a strict low-carb diet (below 20 grams per day) you can probably have a glass of wine fairly regularly. And on a moderate low-carb diet wine is not a problem at all.
Note that dry wines contain less than 0.5 grams of sugar per glass. The other 3.5 grams of carbs are miscellaneous remains from the fermentation process, that should have only small effects on blood sugar or insulin levels. This means that all dry wines go well with low carb.
Sweet dessert wines, however, contain much more sugar."
Tonight we are trying pizza with a chickpea flour base. Not the pan-fried one, but a proper base with yeast. It is rising well so far!

Good because I love a glass of wine.

Did OK yesterday except lunch time as stopped in a garden centre for lunch and had a jacket potato!!!!!! Felt so naughty. Oh well back to normal today. A spring chicken stew made with chicken thigh (organic free range) with veg. Including cabbage and peas, can't remember what else in recipe.

I don' t like the taste of wine, and have gone off tea and coffee with no sugar. A bit like being pregnant !
So I drink mostly water or fruit teas. If anyone has any suggestions for alternatives I will be very grateful.

I love chicken, whitewave and it sounds delicious. We're fasting, so it will be a light supper - either grilled fish and veg or salad, or a veggie and lentil soup.

BBbevan I drink herbal teas sometimes: limeflower is delicate and fragrant, and fresh mint tea is lovely and nicer than dried mint from tea bags.

I love the idea and smell of herbal teas but they always give me indigestion.

Rowan I will try herbal teas for a change. We have fennel and Japanese Matcha ( yuk) at home.
whitewave have you tried fennel tea. My DH takes it for minor IBS and it seems to settle his stomach.

I haven't seen it in England (though I would think it must be available) , but Perrier and Badoit do fizzy water with added lemon or lime here. There isn't any sugar in it and it is very refreshing. I always put it on the table when we have visitors.
The chickpea flour pizza was OK, but a bit worthy. We made one with tomato, mozzarella and basil and the other with slow-cooked mixed peppers and onion, sausage and parmesan. We only make them about once every couple of months so I think we might just stick to the spelt /rye mixture that we normslly use.
Am feeling guilty about our lovely bread-oven which doesn't see much use these days.
The annual May day village walk is coming up and I will need ideas for nibbles to take to share. I went out to try it out with a couple of friends yesterday. We got hopelessly lost and ended up scrabbling over loose stones which won't work when we have got the rest of the village (elderly and pushchairs) with us.

Rowantree well done!

If you love chicken have you tried the Hairy Bikers diet book? They have a lovely recipe for Mediterranean chicken. I substitute mushrooms for the potatoes but otherwise stick to the recipe AND I cook the full recipe which serves 4 and we eat it all! No need to count calories you see as it's all good stuff.

Anya we did the Hairy Bikers Diet a year or so ago. Excellent recipes , I agree. DH lost a stone, me absolutely nothing. ! I think it is aimed at hairy men, of which DH is one .
Thanks for the drink suggestionsMamie I will do that but with Ty Nant or an English water.

Today has been wet and miserable so I have been doing fridge and store cupboard archaeology. Consequently tonight we are having a spicy (raz al hanout, saffron and baharat) tagine of beef, black garlic, dried figs, aubergine, cauliflower, celeriac and squash. No idea how it will taste!

I'm not a hairy man.....honest!

Anya

Haven't tried the Hairy Bikers Diet, no. Is that what the book is called?

We ate a larger than expected lunch at the V&A today - selection of lovely salads. So tonight I'm having a poached egg, tomatoes and a few other raw veggies and DH is having an omelette.
We did share a cake though.....

Hairy Bikers Diet recipes are very tasty and well thought out. Lots of peppers, tomatoes etc. Good ideas for breakfasts , lunches and dinners. But not low carb at all and a lot of cooking. I quite liked that part as I enjoy trying new things. We still have them now and again.

I bought a savoy cabbage yesterday, just because it looked nice!

Along the lines of the interesting ways we cook cauliflower does anyone do anything exotic with the humble cabbage?

BB the Hairy Dieters (that's the book) do have quite a few low carb, tasty recipes or others that can be adapted - which simply means leaving out carbs, or substituting something else or cutting right down on the carb content they suggest.

The Mediterranean Chicken I mentioned, their Peppered Steak with mushroom, their Chicken Jakfrezi, their Stuffed Peppers and so on. But yes, a lot of cooking.

Rowantree savoury cabbage is very tasty and I use it often to accompany meals like roasted belly pork and liver and onions. I have to confessed I don't 'do' much to it except add a touch of butter and lots of fresh ground black pepper.