Gransnet forums

Dieting & exercise

New low-carb thread for post lockdown.

(138 Posts)
Mamie Tue 23-Jun-20 17:47:09

Hello everyone. Have been asked to start a new low-carb thread for those with a few pounds to lose, so here goes.
We have had a very bizarre dietary lockdown involving helping our neighbour to use up her unsold egg surplus (24 a week for two of us), finishing up unidentified leftovers from the freezer (it isn't ratatouille it's tagine), eating produce from the garden in season (10 kilos of broad beans anyone?) and creating menus from the somewhat limited and bizarre offerings of French click and collect shopping (I ordered duck breasts not paté).
We are more or less back to normal now, so please join us, tell us what you are eating and help people lose that surplus weight.

Riverwalk Mon 13-Jul-20 07:06:51

The duck and fig skewers sound delicious, and very decadent!

After three weeks I've lost the 5lbs lockdown weight - just have to keep it off hmm

My fridge/freezer is a bit bare so have no idea what's on the menu in the coming days.

BBbevan Mon 13-Jul-20 08:53:36

“Riverwalk* I make a complete list of all meals for a week. I add some low carb nibbles, take account of what we have in the garden and add some carbs for DH. That is what I then order. We often go ‘off list’, but never run out of stuff. I started doing this when I began low carb eating. Works very well for us

Greeneyedgirl Mon 13-Jul-20 10:05:12

OMG Mamie. You don’t do B&B do you? What a domestic goddess you must be.

We had an Indian TA last night. Special birthday treat with friends, but good job I don’t normally eat like this. Put on 3lbs overnight! Just don’t tolerate too many carbs, or ???.

Witzend Mon 13-Jul-20 10:17:17

Haven’t weighed myself (don’t dare!) but I know I’ve put on weight during lockdown, despite daily walks. Too much snacking!

One low carb (or at least no bread, potatoes, rice, pasta etc.) lunch I’ve enjoyed lately is half a big bag of spinach, wilted down, with lemon juice, and half a normal sized pack of halloumi, sliced and fried (just a quick wipe of oil in the pan, obviously.).

I’m trying to keep off bread anyway - at least the heavily seeded brown we usually have - lately it blows me up like a balloon.

Mamie Mon 13-Jul-20 12:53:29

Not all me Greeneyedgirl. Last night DH cooked veal (ethically raised "sous maman") with mushrooms and cream. We had it with a big helping of spinach from the garden and a couple of tiny new potatoes. Tonight will be leftover veal with leftover courgette from Friday. ? Have just made a smoked salmon salad and realised I am down to my last jar of horseradish. This is a disaster because despite the alleged existence of "raifort" it is pretty impossible to find in the shops. Will have to try and make it to the UK soon. ?

Riverwalk Wed 15-Jul-20 11:57:47

Today I'm making a variation on this stuffed peppers recipe, minus the rice of course:

Stuffed peppers

I even have the pine nuts, and dried cranberries to hand which I've never used before.

Greeneyedgirl Wed 15-Jul-20 12:20:28

That looks a delicious recipe Riverwalk and within my capabilities, just!

You can send OH over here to our kitchen Mamie grin

Riverwalk Wed 15-Jul-20 17:42:51

As ever the real thing looks a bit different from the glossy photos!

BBbevan Wed 15-Jul-20 18:23:22

They look very appetising Riverwalk. I use the Hairy Biker’s recipe with hazelnuts and feta.

Mamie Thu 16-Jul-20 15:31:11

The stuffed pepper looks great. We celebrated Bastille Day with home-made pizza (pissaladière and Margarita), Wednesday was flash-fried chorizo, squid, prawn and courgette with lemon quarters and tonight is bolognese with courgetti. Lots of salads for lunch.
Glad everyone is doing well. ?

Riverwalk Thu 16-Jul-20 16:11:51

The peppers were very good - the photo makes them look dark and dry. I will use the same recipe for courgettes next time.

Right now I have chicken thighs & drumsticks marinating in spicy yoghurt (cumin, coriander, chilli & turmeric) basically tandoori chicken.

As ever Mamie your menus sound fab!

Mamie Thu 16-Jul-20 16:58:38

We are pondering tandoori chicken for tomorrow but might do lemon chicken and greek salad.

Riverwalk Thu 16-Jul-20 19:11:29

The tandoori chicken was delicious. I only ever use thighs & drumsticks as find them the most tasty and never dry. Can't remember the last time I cooked chicken breasts.

Served with minted yoghurt, drizzle of olive oil and sprinkling of sumac, plus large glass of white Rioja smile

Mamie Thu 16-Jul-20 19:33:52

Looks lovely. ? (I would need Brinjal pickle too). ?

Mamie Fri 17-Jul-20 17:56:54

In the end we decided on tandoori chicken tonight Riverwalk. It didn't look nearly as elegant as yours. ?
We had it with spicy courgettes and aubergine. I slice them into matchsticks and turn in turmeric, salt, cayenne and cumin. Leave for a bit then add oil and cook in the oven.
Have a good weekend everyone.

Riverwalk Fri 17-Jul-20 18:26:04

I like the sound of your spicy matchsticks - will give them a try tomorrow.

A not very exciting smoked burrata salad for me tonight.

Sparkling Fri 17-Jul-20 18:29:53

Is is healthy not to eat carbs though

BBbevan Fri 17-Jul-20 18:33:39

It is low carb Sparkling , not no carb.

Greeneyedgirl Fri 17-Jul-20 20:44:05

It is impossible I would think to eat no carbs Sparkling.

It helps to cut down on carbs if you are diabetic, or pre diabetic as I was, because you do not produce sufficient insulin to process them, which causes blood sugar to be abnormally raised, which is detrimental to health.

Riverwalk Sat 18-Jul-20 19:01:59

My spicy courgette & aubergine matchsticks turned out a bit chunky but tasty nevertheless!

Greeneyedgirl Sat 18-Jul-20 21:06:13

The spicy matchstick idea is great. Will give it a go, I guess you could cook with a piece of fish or meat on top? I’m looking for easy stuff.

Riverwalk Sat 18-Jul-20 21:20:33

That's what I did Greeneyed - after about 15 minutes in a hot oven I tossed the veg then added the salmon fillet for 15 minutes.

Mamie Sun 19-Jul-20 07:50:56

Oo that's a good idea. The matchsticks can be chunks or anything else you feel like doing. We had salmon, spinach and crème fraîche last night. We are off to the beach this morning. Still morning mist at the moment but the sun should be through in an hour or so.

Riverwalk Sun 19-Jul-20 10:30:50

Enjoy your morning - it's certainly not beach weather here!

Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast but my problem will be later - I'm off to a friend's house for lunch and she'll be cooking delicious by very carby Singapore noodles.

They are so tasty but I'll have to try my best not to over-indulge.

BBbevan Sun 19-Jul-20 17:33:15

Beach weather here, and only 3 mins away. However we are having a do nothing day today. We had cauliflower crust pizza and salad for lunch ,and a sort of aubergine noodle ( high protein) thing for tea. It was very good and only 4 and 1/2 mins in the microwave. Back to proper cooking tomorrow