Meal Planning Confusion

AprilLTaylor

Any advice for a college student who is trying to meal plan? I don't eat red meat or poultry, and I am having an incredibly difficult time coming up with meals that are low carb.

janejellyroll

Are you cooking for yourself or eating in a dining hall? Is there a particular reason why you've chosen to do a low carbohydrate diet with your particular food restrictions? It can be done, but it can potentially make it much more challenging.

Need2Exerc1se

Lots of fish, seafood, greek yogurt, eggs and vegetables, I would think.

Salad with boiled eggs or canned fish.
Seafood gumbo
veggie omelets
fish/seafood with a veggie side
shrimp stir fry
greek yogurt with berries

AprilLTaylor

janejellyroll wrote: »

Are you cooking for yourself or eating in a dining hall? Is there a particular reason why you've chosen to do a low carbohydrate diet with your particular food restrictions? It can be done, but it can potentially make it much more challenging.

I am not strictly trying to do a low carb diet, but I tend to use carbs as a handicap (EX. pizza, spaghetti) to create something unhealthy but easy. I am just looking for different and healthier options because it can be a bit overwhelming. Currently I either cook for myself or eat fast food, but I would much rather completely cook for myself.

Treece68

I have been diggin salmon marinated with soy sauce and honey mustard cooked in oven with a side of (insert green veg here) YUM. Use Zucchini as pasta with the regular fixings.

TeaBea

AprilLTaylor wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Are you cooking for yourself or eating in a dining hall? Is there a particular reason why you've chosen to do a low carbohydrate diet with your particular food restrictions? It can be done, but it can potentially make it much more challenging.

I am not strictly trying to do a low carb diet, but I tend to use carbs as a handicap (EX. pizza, spaghetti) to create something unhealthy but easy. I am just looking for different and healthier options because it can be a bit overwhelming. Currently I either cook for myself or eat fast food, but I would much rather completely cook for myself.

I wouldn't necessarily lump pizza into higher carb. Sometimes fat is the (calorie bomb) culprit.

Moderate carb pizza - thin crust, lots of veggies, lean meats (or no meat), low sugar sauce, and modest cheese.

Pasta - fill up your plate with veggies instead of relying on a big(ger) portion of pasta. You can have a veggie (added) sauce or a cook veggies in with the pasta. Mac'n Cheese for example, you could stir in some cooked cauliflower and hardly notice. Our plates shouldn't be filled with pasta, that's just not a normal portion size. I make a very veggie potato salad.....same principle.

sammyliftsandeats

AprilLTaylor wrote: »

Any advice for a college student who is trying to meal plan? I don't eat red meat or poultry, and I am having an incredibly difficult time coming up with meals that are low carb.

Do you eat eggs?

I am going to assume a college student budget here and please, correct me if I'm wrong, but eggs are a cheap food and you can boil up a bunch in advance and take some on the go with you for school. You can make egg salad and bring along leaves of romaine as little shells to eat them with.

As for fish, cans of tuna or salmon can be cheaper and provide great protein. That may keep you fuller for longer. Chop in some celery and mayo, and you will have a nice little meal that is portable between classes.

Queenmunchy

I cook soups, stews, chilis, stir fries, curries, stuffed peppers, meatloaf muffins, meatballs, frittatas/egg bakes and either freeze in portions or flash freeze. I just heat and eat what I want.

Lounmoun

http://www.kalynskitchen.com has lots of low carb recipes.

My advice is to eat food you like and log. If your goal is to lose weight stick to your calorie deficit. Get enough protein and eat several servings of vegetables or fruits a day.
If you are having trouble thinking of low carb meals that signals to me that a low carb diet probably isn't very sustainable for you right now.
All food has nutrients. You need to eat food that combines to meets your nutritional needs for the day. That could be a sandwich, pizza, salad, fruit, cottage cheese, taco, oatmeal, vegetables, fruit, nuts, pasta, rice, eggs. Don't get hung up labeling food junk.

littlechiaseed

Why does it have to be low carb?

cemason1993

Hello,
I find that greek yogurt instead of milk, on top of oatmeal with fruit, is fairly high in protein, fiber, and curbs appetite for sugar. fried rice (egg and rice) with tofu is good, the trick is figuring out how you like to spice the tofu. My boyfriend makes me eggplant all the time. Roasted tomatoes. Make your own bean veggie burgers- beans, egg, and flower (add any kind of veggie that you want and they turn out pretty good.)