Little to no carbs

kkriisii
kkriisii Posts: 4 Member
I'm really wanting to eat better and I have a problem when it comes to carbs. My bf and I like pastas and whatnot but need to change that. Anyone have any good recipes that don't include many/any carbs? We dont want to eat salad all the time like we did in thr past. Please help. :)
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Replies

  • CafeRacer808
    CafeRacer808 Posts: 2,396 Member
    Why are you trying to avoid carbs? Are you pre-diabetic/diabetic?
  • Bonny132
    Bonny132 Posts: 3,617 Member
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/394-low-carber-daily-forum-the-lcd-group

    Join the LCD group, where most of the low carbers hang out.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Protein and green leafy vegetables (which have carbs, but not "many").
  • fatblatta
    fatblatta Posts: 333 Member
    zoodles!
  • kkriisii
    kkriisii Posts: 4 Member
    Thank you! :)
  • kkriisii
    kkriisii Posts: 4 Member
    Just trying to not eat so many carbs. I eat a lot I feel like and I feel sluggish when I do, but I like them haha. My family has history of diabetes so I'm trying to stay healthy and active, just been unmotivated to cook healthy/work out lately.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    Bulk out your meals with some roasted veggies (and have a small helping of pasta instead of filling the plate with a large pile of calorie-dense pasta). You can just toss some frozen veggies from a bag onto a cooking sheet, drizzle with a bit of oil, maybe sprinkle some parmesan, some onions (I keep a bag of chopped onions in the freezer), some seasonings.. toss in oven (~375°ish for ~30 minutes or so).
  • joyoakey
    joyoakey Posts: 22 Member
    Increase protein: meat, fish, chicken, nuts, beans, eggs, some dairy. When you do eat carbs, make them whole wheat. I like the taste of whole wheat pasta and make homemade sauce that doesn't add sugar. I also add veggies, like zucchini, peppers, to the sauce. Salmon is easy to bake. I put dill weed, a tiny bit of mayo/honey mustard on top and bake at 400 about 15 - 20 minutes.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    kkriisii wrote: »
    Just trying to not eat so many carbs. I eat a lot I feel like and I feel sluggish when I do, but I like them haha. My family has history of diabetes so I'm trying to stay healthy and active, just been unmotivated to cook healthy/work out lately.

    If you aren't motivated to cook healthy, if you are sick of salads.....then perhaps a low carb approach isn't a good match for you. You don't want temporary changes......that's not going to help long term.

    Maybe moderate carbs instead. Carbs are the side-dish......not the main dish. Fried rice....use some rice, but sub in riced cauliflower too (sold in the frozen food section). Mac-n Cheese, half veggie half pasta. Spaghetti - pasta & spiralized zucchini.
  • ajsmith1974
    ajsmith1974 Posts: 6 Member
    The Great Low Carb Bread Company makes great low carb pasta and pretty good bread and buns and I've tether all the last 15 years. If it's only the two of you cost would be ok. For a big family it would stink. They sell it and a lot of other low carb stuff in Netrition.com and they have flat rate shipping. Trader Joe's has a great low carb wrap if that store is near you. I use quest protein powder, 2 tbs of dat free cream cheese and two servings of liquid egg whites blended to make pancakes. Really good and filled.
  • JohnnyPenso
    JohnnyPenso Posts: 412 Member
    kkriisii wrote: »
    Just trying to not eat so many carbs. I eat a lot I feel like and I feel sluggish when I do, but I like them haha. My family has history of diabetes so I'm trying to stay healthy and active, just been unmotivated to cook healthy/work out lately.
    That's likely from the type of carbs you are eating, likely the more heavily processed carbs like pastas, cakes, cookies, bread etc. Stick to the more natural carbs in fruits and vegetables, whole grains etc. More filling, less calories, much better overall nuritionally.

  • debbieclaborn
    debbieclaborn Posts: 1 Member
    Make lasagna & spaghetti using zucchini as the pasta. My family loved it.
  • ceajs
    ceajs Posts: 1 Member
    Add anything you want to spaghetti (angel hair then spaghetti or linguine ) using olive oil and garlic add broccoli or Cauliflower or anchovies or shrimp make it cold or hot if you read on the Internet it says eat your leftover spaghetti cold less carbs
    The problem I have is I love spaghetti taste so good But I too much of it so I try to put it in a small bowl and control my portion
    I could never give up on my spaghetti dishes
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Pork chops and collard greens sautéed in olive and garlic
    Shrimp stir fried with broccoli and onions
    Pan seared salmon and roasted brussel sprouts
    Steak with mushrooms and wilted spinach with bacon
    chicken marsala over spaghetti squash
    chili
    chicken vegetable soup
    crab legs and roasted baby bok choy drizzled with sesame oil
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    I make a very good low-ish carb chili... basically it is a mixture of meats and sometimes some tomatoes or onions in small quantities.

    Cook all the meats separately - ground beef, ground sausage, bacon (cook it in a baking pan in the oven so it doesn't get crispy and retains most of the fat - then cut into smaller pieces before putting with ground meats). Put everything together, add plenty of spices and possibly some jalapenos + whatever other veggies you are going to use (tomatoes, onions, zhuchini). If you need to add some water, do that (probably won't) or add broth. Now cook the entire batch of everything together.

    For a quick snack, put some pepperoni slices on a plate, top with shredded cheese and microwave for 30 seconds.

    For a low-er carb pizza, get some low carb tortillas (I can find them with 5g net carbs for a 6" tortilla). I'll get diced tomatoes and blend because tomato sauce and tomato paste always seems to have added sugar. So put the tomato sauce on the shell, add shredded cheese, then add low carb toppings. Bake at 375 degrees for about 10-12 min. If you want, you can cut the tomato mixture a bit further with olive oil, but be careful not to make it too thin and runny. This could decrease carbs a bit further and replace with fat.

  • KetoKris
    KetoKris Posts: 78 Member
    Bad= Beans, pasta, milk, corn, bread, any unnatural peanut butter, just about any fruit except avocado, any form of sugar including honey. Also check labels of any condiments. Salad dressing , ketchup and bbq sauce are loaded with suger.
  • DietPrada
    DietPrada Posts: 1,171 Member
    Kris03451 wrote: »
    Bad= Beans, pasta, milk, corn, bread, any unnatural peanut butter, just about any fruit except avocado, any form of sugar including honey. Also check labels of any condiments. Salad dressing , ketchup and bbq sauce are loaded with suger.

    You forgot potatos, rice, grain of any kind really, most packaged foods - read labels. Some fruits are ok, cucumber, blueberries, tomatos. As with everything put it in your diary and see if it fits within your macro targets. Some salad dressings are fine. Whole egg mayo is fine. Problem is you can buy 15 different brands of mayo and get 15 different carb/sugar counts. Again, read labels. There are also lots of sugar free options, I use a nice sugar free bbq sauce - still 1-2g carbs per serving but I can make it fit. Sausages can also have a fair few carbs, due to the filler they put in them. Some brands don't. Some smoked/cured meats have a fair bit of sugar in them. Cheese and nuts are good choices - just remember a serve of nuts is 30g (a tiny amount) not half a bag. Olives and pickles are great.

    This is a great starting point, and an excellent website full of recipes:

    Food list http://www.ruled.me/ketogenic-diet-food-list/

  • LINIA
    LINIA Posts: 1,159 Member
    The carbs I eat are low carb veggies, avocado etc ... I do not eat sugar/carbs such as rice & pasta etc. No deprivation here and no cravings either,
    My favourites are High Fat; olive oil, Kerry gold butter & HWC.
    The very low carb lifestyle is how we are meant to eat.

    Love my bacon
    OP you're right to cut pasta, rice etc ...it really isn't food at all.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    Base your meal around your protein and not your carb. Double your veg.
  • SageParsons1991
    SageParsons1991 Posts: 7 Member
    Simple carbs vs complex carbs- your body needs and uses complex carbs. Simple carbs just become sugar in your body. It is ok to have healthy complex carbs in your diet. Whole wheat pastas and breads, veggies, and fruits are primarily made up of complex carbs. That being said, I am low carb as well and here are a few of my favorite recipes:

    http://nutritiontwins.com/3-ingredient-weight-loss-pancakes/

    http://m.musely.com/tips/Ground-Turkey-Sweet-Potato-Skillet/29116406?u=MTM5NjkxOTYwMHw0fHB0fDUzNTA3MjB8MjkxMTY0MDZ8MjAxNTA2MjgtMDUwMHxpfDE0MzU1MTk3NTUwMjZ8bnVsbA

    http://thebigmansworld.com/2015/10/28/four-ingredient-flourless-protein-brownies/

    An easy lunch: grill 3oz chicken breast, dice it and throw it in a bowl with 1/2 cup black beans (I use the canned Kroger no salt added can). Stir in two tablespoons of salsa- bam :smile:

    My go to dinner: 3oz grilled chicken with a large baked sweet potato and steamed broccoli.

    Another quick dinner or lunch: Fat free refried beans spread on a whole wheat tortilla with salsa for dipping.

    Hope some of those sound good and can help :smile:
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    Simple carbs vs complex carbs- your body needs and uses complex carbs. Simple carbs just become sugar in your body. It is ok to have healthy complex carbs in your diet. Whole wheat pastas and breads, veggies, and fruits are primarily made up of complex carbs. That being said, I am low carb as well and here are a few of my favorite recipes:

    http://nutritiontwins.com/3-ingredient-weight-loss-pancakes/

    http://m.musely.com/tips/Ground-Turkey-Sweet-Potato-Skillet/29116406?u=MTM5NjkxOTYwMHw0fHB0fDUzNTA3MjB8MjkxMTY0MDZ8MjAxNTA2MjgtMDUwMHxpfDE0MzU1MTk3NTUwMjZ8bnVsbA

    http://thebigmansworld.com/2015/10/28/four-ingredient-flourless-protein-brownies/

    An easy lunch: grill 3oz chicken breast, dice it and throw it in a bowl with 1/2 cup black beans (I use the canned Kroger no salt added can). Stir in two tablespoons of salsa- bam :smile:

    My go to dinner: 3oz grilled chicken with a large baked sweet potato and steamed broccoli.

    Another quick dinner or lunch: Fat free refried beans spread on a whole wheat tortilla with salsa for dipping.

    Hope some of those sound good and can help :smile:

    Just a bit of semantics... all carbs become sugar. All carbs and sugar are broken down to glucose and stored as glycogen, oxidized or store as fat.
    It makes me laugh every time someone says they want to eat low carb, all the carb lovers jump on them "WHAT DO YOU MEAN LOW CARB, CARBS ARE GOOD FOR YOU". After 4 years of low carb, I'd have to disagree. The only thing eating carbs is good for is making you want to eat more carbs.

    Anyway ... http://www.food.com/recipe/crack-slaw-low-carb-434863 try this. Even my non-low carb hubby loves it.

    It may be that way for you, but it's the opposite for me. Carbs, especially starches satiate me like no other and my low carb days are the most rough on me. Fats, just don't fill me up.


    OP, it will largely be meats, fish and things like hard cheese (I love me some KerryGold) and full fat dairy.
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    LINIA wrote: »
    OP you're right to cut pasta, rice etc ...it really isn't food at all.

    What do you mean?

    Rice, pasta and noodles feed me fine and a large % of the worlds population.

  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    kkriisii wrote: »
    I'm really wanting to eat better and I have a problem when it comes to carbs. My bf and I like pastas and whatnot but need to change that. Anyone have any good recipes that don't include many/any carbs? We dont want to eat salad all the time like we did in thr past. Please help. :)

    OP are you thinking of giving up ALL carbs, which are in things like pasta, grains, etc as well as many foods you might not be thinking of like dairy, fruits, and vegetables?

    To go completely no carb, you'd have to stop eating veggies or fruit, and your diet would consist of all meat and oil, making sure to eat some of the meat rare or raw and including organ meat to get adequate nutrition....

    OR... you could figure out what it is about certain foods that you really struggle with - is it a physical ailment? Do they not satiate you? Do you have difficulty moderating them? Once you figure out the root of the problem then perhaps consider restricting or eliminating certain foods and play around with how your body responds to that.

    Carbs of all types (including pasta, bread, sweets, etc) in and of themselves are not bad, and with no medical reason to restrict them, they can be part of an overall healthful diet. Many people have to tweak the foods they eat day to day to strike a balance between nutrition, satiety, and enjoyment. For me, giving up altogether or going extremely low carb, would be a fail on all three of those fronts. I would miss out on micronutrients, I would be hungry (as I don't find fat satiating), and I wouldn't enjoy my foods as much. That said there are many times I forgo bread at dinner because we are having pasta or rice, a change I made once I started tracking calories here at MFP.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    Kris03451 wrote: »
    Bad= Beans, pasta, milk, corn, bread, any unnatural peanut butter, just about any fruit except avocado, any form of sugar including honey. Also check labels of any condiments. Salad dressing , ketchup and bbq sauce are loaded with suger.

    Why are these foods bad?
  • kerbear135
    kerbear135 Posts: 7 Member
    I've discovered cauliflower rice is a great substitute in a recipe that usually calls for rice (my husband's gumbo, for example). Also, fathead pizza crust is great- it's almond flour and cheese and once you bake it up, you can't even tell it isn't normal pizza crust. We make our own low carb bbq or tomato sauce to top it with.