No Heavy Carbs @ dinner

Lynxie83
Lynxie83 Posts: 246
in Recipes
Hi all,

I'm looking for recipes for main meals that do not include any heavy carbs (bread, rice, pasta, potato) I also need to look at limiting other substitute items too (like couscous and quinoa).

I will need a few recipes as I will have to plan a whole week's worth of dinners!

Thanks in advance!!

Replies

  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Make spaghetti & measauce, then throw away the spaghetti. Or meat and potatoes, hold the potatoes.
  • TheFunBun
    TheFunBun Posts: 793 Member
    ...Why not just huge portions of veggies? We roast here, and I don't care if it's ten thousand degrees. ROAST ROAST ROAST! :)
  • KRaemondH
    KRaemondH Posts: 120 Member
    Great replacements are whole grain SPROUTED grain bread (very filling and healthy), quinoa, brown rice, mellet, and also if you want something like say, spaghetti you can make a bomb sauce and bake off a spaghetti squash and use that as a replacement for the noodles. Flaxseed meal is a great base for home made pizza dough and there are some awesome recipes out there for it. Green beans are also a really good replacement for pasta or rice. I have been craving mexican food lately and I found two great replacements. Healthy and Fit brand low carb torillas are low in fat and whole grain and also sprouted grain (again) tortillas are amazing. Hope that helps.
  • cfregon
    cfregon Posts: 147
    Taco salad is probably my favorite for cutting out heavy carbs.

    Also, try substituting roasted or steamed mixed veggies in for pasta- a light Alfredo sauce over the veggies and you're set!

    Make tacos or sandwiches with lettuce as the wrapping material rather than the bread/shell- Salads and sandwiches are super versatile and don't require a lot of carbohydrate-heavy ingredients if done right. Try making a mustard-based (rather than mayo) chicken or tuna salad and wrapping in romaine leaves- roll it kind of like sushi and go for it.

    Make a main course of meatballs in a homemade tomato-based Italian sauce. Again, maybe accompany with veggies on the side.

    Note, you can substitute many things in for pasta and just make as usual- consider peeling/shredding carrots and blanching them or even steaming them- then use them as the noodle component (this can be done with asparagus and other dense veggies as well).

    Casseroles could be easy too...make a noodle-less lasagna (replace noodles with thinly sliced eggplant)...or make an enchilada casserole (layers of kidney and black beans, onions, peppers, enchilada sauce, olives, low-fat cheeses, meat of choice, repeat).

    There are tons of options out there!
  • herownkindofwonderfull
    herownkindofwonderfull Posts: 307 Member
    Make spaghetti & measauce, then throw away the spaghetti. Or meat and potatoes, hold the potatoes.

    I used to do that all the time. Make a really thick sauce with tons of veggies and lean meats. So delicious! You can also substitute Spaghetti Squash for pasta... tons of Potassium! And it's a veggie! :D I make a killer Spaghetti Squash Lasagna as well - the only carby thing is the cheese, but I'm sure you could bake without it! I actually added the recipe on here!
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,446 Member
    just double or triple the veggies. Serve your meat on top of some steamed leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard, whatever). LEafy greens are great fo soaking up your sauces. I also like to swap starches for beans too. Great way to sneak in more protein and fiber.

    There are lots of recipes for "zucchini pasta" and now is the season to try it.
  • sweetjudy
    sweetjudy Posts: 6 Member
    These all found yummy! Tonight I made spaghetti with whole wheat pasta, organic tomatoe sauce and a whole bunch of mini sweet peppers!
  • kcragg
    kcragg Posts: 239 Member
    Try lots of veggies, sweet potato, stir fry or salad.
  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    Buckwheat! Seriously, 1 cup of cooked kasha only has 17 carbs. 1 cup of cooked pasta is nearly 4 times that. Plus it's full of protein and fiber.
  • Laura_beau
    Laura_beau Posts: 1,029 Member
    Stir fries- get creative with the meat/veg/sauce combos like prawn (shrimp), ginger & spring onion, beef teryaki with green peppers, chicken, chilli & pineapple, pork in oyster sauce with mushrooms, chicken with cashew nuts- bulk them out with looooads of stir fry veggies/beansprouts and maybe shiritaki/konnyaku noodles (very few cals/carbs in those!)

    Soups/stews- Make a really filling soup/chilli/stew thats packed with veggies. Such as chicken 'pot pie' stew, hungarian goulash, green chicken chilli, beef in ale with carrots, onions, thai green chicken curry with cauliflower rice, Moroccan chicken tagine etc.... google the recipes there are loads.

    Fajitas! Make some fajita 'filling' using chicken/steak/veggies/fish/shrimp and fajita seasoning. Make wraps with large lettuce leaves- serve with salad veggies, coriander (cilantro), lime juice, jalapenos, salsa & cheese (if you wish).

    Lasagne- made using courgette (zuchinni) & or aubergine (Eggplant) in place of the pasta.

    Shepherds pie- meat, veggies, sauce and use mashed carrot/butternut squash to top it. (or mashed cauliflower).
  • fontinathefox
    fontinathefox Posts: 124 Member
    Last night I made baked fish with garlic mayo and parmesan and had it with roasted red peppers and cherry tomatoes (with garlic, chili and basil), fried courgette and wilted spinach. Didn't miss carbs at all!

    Spaghetti bolognese - replace spaghetti with roasted red peppers?
  • fontinathefox
    fontinathefox Posts: 124 Member
    Stir fries- get creative with the meat/veg/sauce combos like prawn (shrimp), ginger & spring onion, beef teryaki with green peppers, chicken, chilli & pineapple, pork in oyster sauce with mushrooms, chicken with cashew nuts- bulk them out with looooads of stir fry veggies/beansprouts and maybe shiritaki/konnyaku noodles (very few cals/carbs in those!)

    Soups/stews- Make a really filling soup/chilli/stew thats packed with veggies. Such as chicken 'pot pie' stew, hungarian goulash, green chicken chilli, beef in ale with carrots, onions, thai green chicken curry with cauliflower rice, Moroccan chicken tagine etc.... google the recipes there are loads.

    Just be careful with some of these - pineapple and cashew nuts are both high in carbs, and beef in ale would possibly have to be beef in red wine instead.
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    Great replacements are whole grain SPROUTED grain bread (very filling and healthy), quinoa, brown rice, mellet, and also if you want something like say, spaghetti you can make a bomb sauce and bake off a spaghetti squash and use that as a replacement for the noodles. Flaxseed meal is a great base for home made pizza dough and there are some awesome recipes out there for it. Green beans are also a really good replacement for pasta or rice. I have been craving mexican food lately and I found two great replacements. Healthy and Fit brand low carb torillas are low in fat and whole grain and also sprouted grain (again) tortillas are amazing. Hope that helps.

    She specifically stated none of any of the grains....
  • sarahtopcat72
    sarahtopcat72 Posts: 1 Member
    Make any sort of pasta sauce, leam meat, tomatoey, pepper onions etc. Then instead of pasta I use Courgettes, (is that zucchini i think?) sliced thinly:smile: lengthways. They have soft pasta texture, but a veg & hig water content. I find this a fab pasta substitute.
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    I make faux noodles from zucchini and summer squash, will use spaghetti squash as well.

    Ill use thinly sliced eggplant, once purged, Ill use it for making lasagna for myself.

    Lately, oven-roasting vegetables has been a significant addiction... its like freakin' candy when they get all caramelized with a little olive oil, sea salt and black pepper... mmmmmmmmmmm Ill eat it right from the damn pan! LOL!

    I love tofu so Ill use Tofu-shirataki for my asian dishes.
  • Renae_Nae
    Renae_Nae Posts: 935 Member
    http://www.theredheadriter.com/2012/02/healthy-baked-chicken-stuffed-red-bell/

    This is my new favorite recipe! I add in some zucchini too and the whole family loved it!
  • inkandsheep
    inkandsheep Posts: 101 Member
    A lot of one-pot chillies and curries and the like are really nice without the carbs they are usually paired with.
    And of course homemade soups!

    You can use courgette (zucchini) cut into thin strips instead of pasta. Really nice with a bit of hot chilli pesto and low fat grated cheese.

    Stir fries are good without the noodles or rice. Try bell pepper, red onion, pak choi, mushrooms, a few cashew nuts (and optionally add your choice of meat or tofu).
  • bostonmom23
    bostonmom23 Posts: 53 Member
    some of my fav ones include

    Beef and Broccoli - a bag of frozen broccoli, pound of ground beef, 1 onion, mushrooms cook in stove top under ground beef is brown an throw some BBQ sauce in . usually this is fine but sometimes I will do brown rice.


    a good side dish is baked spinach casserole frozen spinach, cottage cheese, egg mix altogether and baked in a pie pan for 40-45 minutes at 350.


    Stuffed peppers with brown rice and could even omit the rice

    Sausage, peppers, onion, mushroom

    Meatza pizza http://livelifeactive.com/2011/12/01/clean-and-healthy-pizza-recipe/

    I also agree with the sprouted Ezekiel bread-if we have sandwiches or burgers we use this one. Even my hubby likes it!
  • jcpmoore
    jcpmoore Posts: 796 Member
    Since I have to feed the men in my house, I don't have this option. I make the rice, pasta, couscous, whatever, and I just don't eat it. I always make extra vegetables. So most of my meals consist of the following:

    protein (grilled chicken, steak, whatever)
    steamed veggie
    other veggie
    salad
    grain for everyone else

    Believe me, by the time I finish the second veggie, I'm way too full to want any grains.
  • murf19
    murf19 Posts: 453 Member
    I always skip the carb - Skip the pasta, potata etc and add more fresh veggies.
  • loadsandloads
    loadsandloads Posts: 353 Member
    I'm liking some of these ideas. My hubby is diabetic so these will be helpful to me as well. Thanks
  • Welshie_girl
    Welshie_girl Posts: 107 Member
    Buckwheat! Seriously, 1 cup of cooked kasha only has 17 carbs. 1 cup of cooked pasta is nearly 4 times that. Plus it's full of protein and fiber.

    Amen.
  • Lynxie83
    Lynxie83 Posts: 246
    Thanks so much for the great ideas guys! I will be spoilt for choices :bigsmile:

    I had thought about making the stir fries and just not eating it with rice/pasta etc, but wanted to see what fantastic ideas you all had! So glad I asked! You guys have been brilliant! Hubby won't know what to try first :tongue:
  • mellabyte
    mellabyte Posts: 193 Member
    Cauliflower crust pizza. :)

    http://www.eat-drink-smile.com/2011/04/cauliflower-crust-pizza.html

    Adjust toppings to your liking.

    Or spaghetti squash mac n' cheese. (Squash is a bit higher in carbs, but still less than actual pasta.)

    http://meghantelpnerblog.com/2010/11/02/healthy-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe-vegan-squash/
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    I am a tuna bake kind of guy, given the choice .... Tuna + Veggies (leafy, mostly) + Chopped tomatoes + Sour cream, topped with cheese and spiced up with chillies and cayenne pepper ... Lob in oven, bake until cheese is golden ... Sorted.

    I may even go nuts and mop the juice up with some (a little) garlic bread in the assumption that the carb impact will be blunted by the bulk of the meal.

    Unfortunately my family has declared themselves sick of tuna for now so I tend to cook up some steak with sweet potato or breadcrumb-free meatloaf instead ...
  • fitmom7577
    fitmom7577 Posts: 2
    That's too funny.

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