What’s left?

I make buddha bowls twice weekly, they allow for diversity and flexibility. The basis is a portion (small/ very small) of each of the following: green leafy veg, grains, protein, roast veg, pulses.
Mix as you want. A dressing can also add flavour. There are lots of ideas and videos online. Add herbs, nuts and seeds if you are feeling adventurous!

Current research favours the Mediterranean diet - freshly prepared food including fruit and veg. Dairy fats are not bad for you as used to be thought and do not cause high cholesterol. Full fat dairy products are higher in vitamins, minerals and trace elements so full fat greek yoghurt is high in protein and the fat helps satiety. Quantities are of course important. Just because dairy fat is now OK doesn't mean that you should eat loads and the same applies to olive oil which is beneficial. Lots of vitamins need fat in order for the body to absorb them. It's not a good idea to cut out whole food groups just watch your quantities and 'eat the rainbow', aiming for 30 different plant foods a week. This is easier than it sounds as tea, coffee,cocoa, etc count. Different kinds of nuts and seeds are counted individually.

Sorry if I have gone on too long. Have a look at Tim Spectre on YouTube - lots of info.

PS: sorry, should have added that there are loads of vegetarian/vegan recipes in the plan

feekeh's good. quorn very useful. and nuts are so good for your heart and the fat in them is not stored ...so go nuts and seeds a plenty. Roast a whole range of veg from beetroot to cauliflower as well as the obvious...tend towards sweet potato than the nomal but baked potato with cottage cheese and salad is always a delight. Tim Spector the nutritionist reckons 30 different foods a week to keep your biome happy and healthy..I'm going for that.

I was referred by my GP to an online diet plan - Second Nature - last April because of very high cholesterol. It’s essentially low carb. I’ve lost nearly two stone and dropped two dress sizes. It’s the best diet I’ve ever tried. Love the food and feel so well.
Here’s an example of the plan
www.secondnature.io/guides/nutrition/budget-meal-plan-2

www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/carbohydrates-and-diabetes/carbs-and-cooking#:~:text=However%2C%20when%20starchy%20foods%20are,down%20and%20essentially%20becomes%20fibre.

My DIL is vegetarian but eats fish. So I just cook her fish with vegetables when she comes for a meal. She can't eat tofu or quorm products as they make her ill.

All carbohydrates are easier/lighter if chilled or frozen first.

Pre-cook potatoes, pasta etc. and reheat.
There is science behind it but can't remember it. To do with chilling - you "use" less carbs.

There's loads of information online about low glycemic foods, obviously white bread and white rice are high on the glycemic index, but brown basmati rice and reheated carbs of various kinds are lower so could be eaten in small quantities. Surprisingly, Thai rice is worse than basmati.
If you include some "higher glycemic" food in your meal its effect is tempered by the low glycemic foods you eat with it, sort of averaging out the meal.

I have had to cater for vegetarians and usually use Quorn mince in a sauce for pasta, sometimes adding lentils of various kinds to bulk it out. My husband is a dedicated carnivore but will eat this.
I use Mutti chopped tomatoes to give it enough depth of flavour, ordinary chopped tomatoes can have a more acid flavour and I don't want to add extra sugar. Plus tomato puree if you want.
Somebody else mentioned above that if you cool carbohydrates and then reheat them they become "resistant" so better for blood sugar, slower to digest and filling you up better - I usually use pre-coooked pasta.
Obviously you can use this mince sauce for other things such as Keema curry or chilli with beans and different reheated carbohydrates.

Chuck some egg white in wherever you can get away with it. Cheap and basically just protein and water. Leftover egg yolks can be cooked and fed to your partner/pets/wild birds.

If you eat eggs and dairy you are getting enough protein.
I'm pescatarian though rarely eat fish.
I find all pulses disagree with my digestion.

I often eat pasta with homemade Mediterranean style sauce; (aubergine, onion, garlic,courgette, red pepper, mushroom, tin of toms, herbs etc) and grated cheese, with a green salad.
Or a rice dish courtesy of Madhur Jaffrey
Half a baked potato is cheap and filling too.
I'm not actively trying to lose weight but don't want to gain either.

Good luck to you.

I make a vegetable paella for one of my friends and that is really filling. Do you eat fish? Then try a fish pie with vegetables .

BlueBelle

But vegetarian pasta and shepherds pie are containing carbs
This thread is about exploring less or no carbs

Shepherds pie with root veg mash is low carb if you use celeriac and sweet potato.
A pasta dish can be made with a smaller amount of wholewheat pasta.

watermeadow do you eat Quorn. I don't eat meat but do eat chicken and before anyone says it's meat it's not it's poultry. I used Quorn mince,chicken pieces and sausages. They are protein . I use a lot of pearl barely ,red lentils and tinned beans in water plus loads of veg. On the Pears thread on diet and exercise I explain how I eat and why. I always have 60g dry weight of oats cooked in coconut milk in the microwave. I find it filling as it's a slow release food. If Iake it with skimmed milk either have 20g honey or 2 tablespoon of dark brown sugar. When I used pearl barley or red lentils always use 150g, pasta 100g, tinned beans I think drained. Bulgar wheat I use to boost my cal intake if low on my daily allowance 30-40g. I cook 500g packet of long grain rice once cold packed in 100g portions and frozen which I just add to my stew dinner from frozen to reheat.

This isn't making sense but very tired but just a few suggestions. I lost 7st over 5 years as I realised it was a marathon not a sprint to lose weight . Was over 19st size 32 now size 16. Will never be slim and have saggy baggy skin. But decades of being obese skin does not tighten up without surgery .

GSM I didn’t say no carbs though …cutting down not out
I do eat cheese and fish
Not really sure how mushrooms are a substitute for rice I put mushrooms in curry anyway
What’s Konjac rice I ve never heard of that ?

I was also wondering why you were trying to avoid fats as well as carbs. Cheese and nuts are excellent sources of protein. And eggs, as others have mentioned.

If you’re low carbing, you need the fat and protein. So cheese and nuts are absolutely fine and won’t add on the weight. Instead of potatoes use celeriac, Konjac rice and noodles are low carb and filling. Low carb bread is available. I’m not veggie but eat lots of celeriac, cauliflower, broccoli and mushrooms. So, for example, I will have mushrooms instead of rice with a curry. I’ll have fish and celeriac chips.

Pescatarians often wrongly call themselves vegetarians which can be annoying for hosts.

Of course they are. I simply said what I resort to (because it’s so bloody difficult to feed one vegetarian whilst trying to satisfy a load of meat eaters). If one consumed no carbs at all one wouldn’t be very well. Carbs in breakfast and lunch can be controlled in order to consume more at dinner. Thank God my dil is skinny as a rake and not carb conscious.

But vegetarian pasta and shepherds pie are containing carbs
This thread is about exploring less or no carbs

This time last year my brother and his partner were staying with me. She is a gluten free vegan. Nightmare but we managed.

When entertaining my daughter in law I inevitably resort to a vegetarian pasta dish, fish dish, vegetarian shepherd’s pie or stuffed mushrooms with a roast for the main course. I do find it difficult catering for a vegetarian when everyone else likes meat but never say so.

Adding a handful of lentils when cooking home-made soups makes them more filling.

I started a thread about this a few days back I too am a vegi (no meat or fish) but definitely eat too many carbs and trying to cut back
Here’s a funny story I was speaking to a colleague today this is how the conversation went
Her ….“I know you’re a vegetarian so you don’t eat meat of fish do you eat vegetables ????”

It’s difficult because I like potatoes, rice, noodles, pasta, cous cous, etc etc
Afraid protein shakes wouldn’t do it for me at all, I need to chew and have solid food
I been trying hard and having lots of salads with some Quorn or cheese and onion bakes etc but it’s hard especially when you have neither time or inclination to cook fancy stuff