On Atkins, do you have to be 100% carb-free, or does it allow for foods that have a high protein-to-carb ratios? My husband was on a low-carb, high protein diet and (combined with 15 minutes of exercise a day) lost almost 40 pounds in 14 weeks, and one of the things that was stressed with his diet was that if he couldn't avoid carbs, he had to balance it with high protein.
Shirataki noodles (you find these where tofu is kept in most grocery stores and Super Wal-Marts) are zero-carb (they're pretty close to zero-everything), and as long as you do your research correctly they can sub in for Italian-style pasta as easily as they work for Asian dishes. Knowing how to prep them is key, though -- my husband nearly threw up the first time because we didn't know that they needed to be rinsed a LOT as soon as you take them out of the bag.
Buckwheat, quinoa, flax, chickpeas, and chia have high protein-to-carb ratios. A little work, they can all be used to make a nice rice substitute. Or a granola substitute. Or flour substitute. Or oatmeal substitute... they can substitute a lot of things. Just don't count on them for anything that requires a gluten property.
Berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries) have a different type of sugar than other fruit, and are good for low-carb diets, pre-diabetics, and people with type-2 diabetes. Pineapple, too. And watermelon. If you're the type that typically likes to sprinkle sugar on your strawberries to get rid of the bitterness... swap it for (believe it or not) Celtic grey or Himalayan pink salts.
-- Salt trick also works for grapefruit, but citrus is something you should avoid on a low-carb/pre-diabetic/type-2 diabetic diet. Bananas, stone fruits, and melons (except watermelons) should also be avoided on these types of diets.
Large lettuce leaves can sub for bread in cold-cut sandwiches/wraps. And fajitas/tacos. And then there's lettuce cups. Similarly, you can use long, patted-dry strips of cucumber flesh wrapped around rolled up cold-cuts.
Hope some of this helps for getting around the rut.
... I have a recipe somewhere for a "chocolate pudding" that's actually made with avocados that's supposed to be really good and can be frozen into fudgesicles...
Shirataki noodles (you find these where tofu is kept in most grocery stores and Super Wal-Marts) are zero-carb (they're pretty close to zero-everything), and as long as you do your research correctly they can sub in for Italian-style pasta as easily as they work for Asian dishes. Knowing how to prep them is key, though -- my husband nearly threw up the first time because we didn't know that they needed to be rinsed a LOT as soon as you take them out of the bag.
Buckwheat, quinoa, flax, chickpeas, and chia have high protein-to-carb ratios. A little work, they can all be used to make a nice rice substitute. Or a granola substitute. Or flour substitute. Or oatmeal substitute... they can substitute a lot of things. Just don't count on them for anything that requires a gluten property.
Berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries) have a different type of sugar than other fruit, and are good for low-carb diets, pre-diabetics, and people with type-2 diabetes. Pineapple, too. And watermelon. If you're the type that typically likes to sprinkle sugar on your strawberries to get rid of the bitterness... swap it for (believe it or not) Celtic grey or Himalayan pink salts.
-- Salt trick also works for grapefruit, but citrus is something you should avoid on a low-carb/pre-diabetic/type-2 diabetic diet. Bananas, stone fruits, and melons (except watermelons) should also be avoided on these types of diets.
Large lettuce leaves can sub for bread in cold-cut sandwiches/wraps. And fajitas/tacos. And then there's lettuce cups. Similarly, you can use long, patted-dry strips of cucumber flesh wrapped around rolled up cold-cuts.
Hope some of this helps for getting around the rut.
... I have a recipe somewhere for a "chocolate pudding" that's actually made with avocados that's supposed to be really good and can be frozen into fudgesicles...
