BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Low Carb Hearing about Low Carb

How did you first hear about low carb diets in a way that really mattered to you? Was it that a friend lost weight? That you read about it in a magazine? Was it a news report?

I'm sure we'd heard about the low carb diet from many different locations, but the time that it really made a difference is when a family member kept telling us the great success she'd been having with it. After great doubt we finally gave in to give it a try ourselves. We figured, what did we have to lose? And it worked out wonderfully for us <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I also heard about Atkins from my sister who lost a lot of weight (about 80 pounds) in ten months and asked me if I wanted her "fat clothes" before she disposed of them. Talk about incentive.... I have now lost 18.5 pounds in three weeks and survived Christmas relatively easily.

LOL that is tooo funny, talk about incentive is right!! We just gave a ton of our heavy clothes away to charity, to give us incentive not to grow out of our current clothes.

That's really great for your sister! My boyfriend has lost around 65 so far since June and is doing well, without feeling hungry or deprived at all. It's amazing how much of a difference it can make, to look back at those large clothes and think, "those used to fit ..."

If you can survive the holidays, you can survive anything <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Talk about a trial by fire!

It's very intersting, it seems that most people hear about low carb from someone else who is doing it. You'd have to assume that these relatives are having success if the person in question then wants to give it a try too <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I know that was the case for us - we knew relatives that had great success on the diet and figured we should try it ourselves! And I know several people have gone on the diet after watching how well WE did, so it keeps gaining in popularity <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I had a friend that was eating the Atkins way and pleased with her relief from excessive blood sugar probs. Headache, moods swings, low energy. So, in Oct '03 I started Atkins induction for a guide, now I eat only whole grain pancakes, hot cereal, meat, eggs, dairy, vegetables, nuts and couldn't be happier, as well as feeling so much better, sugar really had a hold of me. I pretty much avoid all processed foods and I'm dismayed in the quantity of products that have sugar. I just never realized it before. :rolleyes:

Welcome, NoSugar! You're quite right, it is simply amazing how much sugar is included in processed foods. I think I was reading that just since 1970, the average sugar consumption has increased a full 25%. And it's not because we are adding more sugar onto our sugars or into our coffees. It's that our food simply HAS more sugar in it already.

It's great to hear you're doing well while eating healthy foods! What are some of your favorite recipes?

It's that our food simply HAS more sugar in it already.

It's great to hear you're doing well while eating healthy foods! What are some of your favorite recipes?

Exactly my point!,
I have come up with a buckwheat/soy pancake that is very good, a crustless quiche with broccoli, cheese, spinach and onions, cheese and zucchini patties, soy/flaxmeal and peanutbutter cookies. I find such irony that people equate lowcarb with bacon, butter and eggs and never realize all the vegetables and grain choices that are available.
I love the crock pot and regularly use it to prepare meats and chicken.
I recently bought an icecream maker and have been researching recipes, I also have been looking at liquid splenda as a sweetener, essentially avoiding refined flours and sugar has been the key, I like splenda and would like the better formula of the liquid, avoiding the bulking agents that are present in the dry along with the carbs.

We use our ice cream maker QUITE often and it makes amazingly good ice cream. I have recipes up for vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, chocolate chip, butter pecan, you name it. Blackberry sorbet too I think. We have cut back on using it now that it's winter but as soon as next summer hits it'll be in use quite constantly. It amazes me that people spend $4 or $5 on boxed ice cream when you can make it at home for MUCH less and it is much more flavorful (and has fewer carbs too!)

We have a crock pot and I was in fact talking to Bob a few days ago about having to start thinking up recipes for it. We stopped using it when we went on low carb because most of our recipes used potatoes. But I really think we can make quite delicious recipes without carb problems and they are EASY for people. We were talking in another thread about people wanting quick/easy food. If they start the crockpot going in the morning they can come home to it done POOF without any cooking involved. Which I think people would appreciate.

Right now we're making chicken wings ALL the time in our new deep fryer and it is super easy, quick and clean. But I'd like to add crock pot recipes in the mix to give us some variety. Which crock pot recipes are your favorites?

I rarely use a recipe except to start an idea, these are some I've used regularly, feel free to change the meat, add or delete ingreditnts, a crock pot is verrry forgiving and infinitely flexible, low for many hours or high for the afternoon, so here goes:

Beef Brisket
1 large beef brisket
spicy mustard
1-2 envelopes onion soup mix.
Place your beef in the crockpot, coat the beef with the mustard-- sprinkle the onion soup over the mustard and put the lid on low for 6-8 hours.

Stew #1
3 tablespoons of oil
1 pound beef cut into bite sized cubes (cheap cuts)
1 large onion - chopped
4 stalks celery chopped
4 parsnips or turnips - chopped (these can be omitted if you can't find them)
1 large green bell pepper chopped
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
4 Tablespoons Paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
4 beef boullion cubes
water to cover
1/2 cup of sour cream

In large crock pot heat olive oil and add onions, Add paprika to make a really red base, if you think you need more then add more. Add meat, Add all vegetables Add salt, pepper and bouillion cubes and add enough water to cover the top of the meat. Let cook for 4-5 hours on low to medium heat. When meat is tender stir in sourcream just before serving.


Crock Pot#2

2 lbs beef chunks
2 onions chopped
4 to 6 celery ribs chopped
4 turnips, chopped
4 parsnips chopped
1 cup canned tomatoes
Salt and Pepper to taste.

Add into crock pot simmer 5 hours or til done.


Crock Pot #3

2 pounds boneless beef , chicken or pork
1/4 cup salsa
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 onion, chopped
1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped 2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
handful of cilantro chopped

Place meat in the crock pot. Mix the chili powder, cumin and salt with the chopped vegetables. Pour the mixture over the meat and toss until well coated. Cook on low 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Remove the meat from the crock pot, remove bones if necessary and shred the meat. Serve as is or as filling in tacos or enchiladas, or over pork-skins(chiccharrones)like nachos, add cheese and hot sauce, great for a pot-luck!


Chicken and Paprika

1 whole chicken cut into pieces, or legs and thighs
2 onions, chopped
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 green pepper, chopped
4 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons paprika
teaspoon salt
teaspoon black pepper
garlic powder
1/4 cup sour cream

In large crock pot over medium heat, add oil and onions, paprika and stir. Add chicken pieces, can of tomatoes (whole can, juice and all), green pepper and spices. cook 4-5 hours or until chicken is done. Pull chicken pieces out and let cool until you can take the bones out. While the chicken pieces are out add the sour cream and stir well. Add the chicken meat back in and simmer.


Lentils and Beef
1 medium onion, quartered
3 whole cloves
6 cups water
1 pound lentils
2 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
1 pound ground beef, browned (or stew meat)
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon onion powder

Stick cloves into onion. Into a crockpot put ingredients listed. If needed, you can add additional water. Simmer until tender 4-5 hours

Crock Pot Beef/Cabbage
1 lb. ground beef (or stew meat)
1 onion, sliced
1 head green cabbage sliced or chopped roughly
1- 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 T. parsley
1 T. dill
1 tsp caraway seeds
1 bay leaf
salt, pepper to taste

Cook beef and onions together until brown, place in crock pot. Add all of the other ingredients, stir, and cook 4-6 hours on high, 8-10 on low.


Berry Beef

1 chopped onion
3-5 chopped cloves of garlic
2-3 beef shank sections- or pork butt shanks
juice of 1 lemon
1 cup berries (any kind will work, fresh is best) red pepper flakes
salt
pepper

Put chopped onion and garlic in a crockpot. Salt & pepper the beef shanks and sprinkle with the crushed red pepper, then put them into the crockpot. Add the blackberries, lemon juice. Simmer until tender 5-6 hours.