High Protein & Low Carb Meal Ideas?

jackieglasgow

bump for DonnyGal

juliapenguin

Hello OSers.

Some time ago I started exploring low carb diets as a way to cut down on my insatiable hunger and bad anxiety.

I know some people on here will be sure that this is really dangerously unhealthy, but coincidentally I've since had extensive blood tests done by the GP to make sure my ovarian pain is just a menopause thing and not the sign of something serious. The tests showed that my cholesterol and blood fats are EXCELLENT (much, much better than my tofu- and soya-loving DH!). So I'd really be grateful if no one here gives me a hard time for my 'unhealthy' diet. Maybe low-carbing is dangerous for some, but it helps me and my medical record holds the proof that it's not doing me any harm.

To cut a long story short(ish), I've had a really terrible year. My Mum died, then one of my brothers - my Dad and another brother died some time ago. A month ago I found out another of my brothers has terminal cancer, and now a friend has died. Although I'd been doing really well, I've now had a sort of breakdown (not helped by having a horrible boss) and now I'm out of work and not up to getting another job just yet.

So, I'm at home with more time and less money. Low carbing is not cheap unless you're prepared to eat really cheap meat (which I'm not), but because I could afford it until now I haven't really explored ways of being an OS-style low carber.

Is anyone else interested in this? I've bought two low-carb cookbooks but am not that thrilled with them. I've always found people on here to have better recipes than 'real' chefs/cooks.

Please be kind - I'm really fragile!

Mrs_Chip

Hi Julia

Sorry you have had such a dreadful time of things, my mum died just after Christmas, so can understand something of how you are feeling, but all those losses so close to each other must be terrible to deal with.

I started low-carbing in may 2003 and only stopped in Nov 2005 because I had to go into hospital for a hysterectomy, and the Drs asked me stop for the duration of my stay (big mistake!).

Those couple of years were probably the healtiest of my life - I was not ruled by thinking about food, I was never hungry, had bags of energy and lost several stones in weight. After my op (tbh I did eat really badly during convalesence, catching up all the stuff I had not had for a couple of years) I tried to go back to LC but found that I just put on weight - poss because of the hormonal changes. I have tried a couple of times since, but it no longer seems to work for me (which leads me to think that my inability to lose weight before was down to hormones - but who knows?).

Anyway, I think you should find it fairly easy to LC on a budget - A big part of my diet were eggs, chicken, tinned fish, green veg (stir-fry cabbage or sprouts with bacon - yum!), nuts. Lots of these things can be found in the value ranges or in cheaper shops. I think you need to list those ingredients you can have and then try to source them as cheaply as possible - I buy eggs in Lidl, their FR are really cheap - they do FR chicken as well. I used to love inventing LC recipes, and am happy to help with menu plans etc.

I know a lot of people think LC is bad, but many doctors are coming round to the idea that it is actually the right way for those with diabetes to eat as LC manages sugar levels naturally without drugs. And traditional Inuit do not eat carbs - only protein and fat, and until they were introduced to western food they were some of the healtiest people on the planet!

squeaky

Hi

We have a few threads which may help... carb threads here on Old Style MoneySaving

juliapenguin

Thanks, Squeaky and Mrs Chip xx

Pink.

Hi Julia,

I'm sorry to read that you've been throuigh such a rough time recently. This thread on the Health board offers support and advice to others who are low carbing:

Low-carb diets support thread

This is the main thread on Old Style that has recipe suggestions:

High Protein & Low Carb Meal Ideas?

I'll add your thread to that one later.

Pink

juliapenguin

Thanks, Pink - what I'm really looking for is proper OS recipes rather than support in general - I've been managing well generally with the help of M&S but now I want to really do it Old Style - there's nowhere like the OS board for real recipes that work. I've had a few mashed cauliflower sloppy disasters, and could do with some tried and tested tips. Most of the lovely recipes I've used in the past ofrom this board are 'normal' in that the recipes include lots of starchy carbs to fill up hungry tummies. I realise that low-carbing is not for everyone, but I'd be really grateful for any good, cheap and filling recipes, particularly those which can be made quickly with largely storecupboard ingredients if my panic attacks/anxiety are too bad for me to go out food shopping.

jackieglasgow

Juia I am trying to get back into low carbing again after a struggle for a few months, I had a very successful episode doing it earlier this year. My worry is that with my wist measurement, I will become per-diabetic, and I want to avoid that.

I am vegetarian, and found the Rose Elliot low carb cookbook. Because its vegetarian, it may prove to be a lot cheaper for you to try that "Atkins" style low carbing? Why not see if you can get a book from the library - maybe even three or four low veggie days a week will help with the costs, and at this time of the year fresh veg and salads are much cheaper and in abundance.

jackieglasgow

Just seen your last post. I don't feel the need to snack when low carbing. I do keep a ready supply of almonds in, and no added sugar peanut butter, and a few almonds or a teaspoon of peanut butter smeared on a celery stick (or stuffed straight in gob, lol!) is usually enough to keep me going til the next meal if I really need it.

Mrs_Chip

Julia

I agree with Jackie - if anything there were times when I was Lcing when I had to make myself eat my meals as being in ketosis supresses hunger pangs. If you find you are getting 'snackish' it might be worth eating a bit more at mealtimes, or upping the fat content of your meal a bit to keep you going to the next meal.

But if you do need a snack or quick meal, keep some hard boiled eggs in the fridge and have them with mayo or celery salt, they are quite filling.