High Protein & Low Carb Meal Ideas?

juliapenguin

Actually I don't need to snack either - like you, I have to remind myself to eat at mealtimes, which is bliss considering how unbelievably disordered and extreme my eating is when I eat carbs, particularly sugar and 'white' carbs. It's like there's a starving monster inside of me which is never satisfied, but when I stick to protein, fat and some green veg I feel like a normal person again.

I do appreciate your help - any good mealtime recipes? I generally have meat plus some veg, but I do get bored with that and I need lots of variety. I'll definitely look at the Rose Elliot low-carb book, as most of my meals involve expensive cuts of meat.

Mrs_Chip

It's a while since i have cooked LC recipes so trying to remember...

I used minced meat a lot - beef/lamb/pork, fried with leeks and jazzed up with herbs/spices, tinned toms and sundried tom puree, layered with LC pasta (Dreamfields is delicious but pricy) and mayo/cheese. Bake like lasagna. A big dish made me about four meals. If yo dont have pasta, get some big courgettes or aubergine, slice and fry and use like lasagna sheets. This makes a pack of mince go a long way!

How about tortilla - fry off leeks, courgettes, mushrooms, bacon, whatever. Season and spice as you fancy. Tip in beaten eggs and cook gently until underside is browned. Flip or bung under grill with grated cheese on top. Eat hot or at room temp, great for lunchbox.

Or Stir-fry - shredded green cabbage and leek, beansprouts, celery - whatever LC veg you like. Mix in some 5 spice and chuck in shredded cooked pork, chicken, beef (any leftover meat or make a very thin omlette, roll and slice it) . Good slug of soy sauce and fish sauce if you have it, a bit of water to make a gravy.

juliapenguin

Some great ideas there, thank you, Mrs Chip. I'm definitely going to try lasagna, and I think today I'll stuff some peppers lurking in the fridge with spicy mince.

I'm veering between feelings of panic and relief all day at the moment - panic at being out of a job and relief at not having to go to the job where the boss is a bully. I'm feeling the lack of a structure to my days - and thinking a good bit about nice food to cook is helping. My husband is really enjoying coming home to a clean apartment and dinner cooking - he's very good and while I've been going downhill and struggling to cope at work he's been doing way more than his share. I do think as well that even four days (so far) back on a low carb diet has been helping me to manage the anxiety - eating sugar helps the anxiety within minutes, but then it comes back with a vengeance as my blood sugar levels drop again.

Mrs_Chip

Hi Julia

I have been off work with anxiety and stress recently, and have found cooking very helpful as a way to relax. We are facing a massive life change, both giving up our jobs of many years to start our own business. This should be a good time, but I am having problems adjusting to the change. As we are going to take a massive drop in income I have been finding lots of ways to save money and reading the OS board has been very helpful.

I have found the fresh meat in Lidl and Aldi to very good quality and a good bit cheaper than the supermarkets if you buy at the right time (Aldi currently do a 1.5kg Fr chicken for £4.99.

If I think of any dishes I will post them here!

juliapenguin

Thanks, Mrs Chip. It does really help to know that I'm not alone - part of the problem with anxiety is that when you're in it you feel completely isolated. I don't have an Aldi or a Lidl nearby, but I'll go to one when I'm feeling better and more able to go out on my own.

Yategirl

I'm always looking for low carb recipes - especially those suitable for a budget! I feed myself, dh and 2 dc - I rarely cook 2 meals but choose to cook meals that we can all eat and to freeze single portions so that Dh and dc can have pizza or some other not low carb meal without me feeling hard done by

Mince, chicken thighs and drumsticks are cheap then I tend to buy other meat when on a good offer.

Suggestions for meals are bolognaise (pasta for the non lc's and I have a small portion of green veg), meatballs in tomato based sauce - I have green veg, everyone else pasta or rice; Fajitas - I sometimes use chicken and other times mince, we serve these with salad, salsa and grated cheese - I have the mix with salad and no tortillas (although you can get low carb tortillas). I make curries - again with green veg for me.. Chilli with green veg... Do you see the trend?! :rotfl:

I buy expensive sausages can't remember if black farmer or debbie&andrews offhand but is one lower in carb than the other - so we only have these occasionally - I do celeriac bake (like potato bake or dauphinose) and have sausage(s) with that.

Lunches and breakfasts - bacon and egg, tortilla or crustless quiche, small salad with leftover chicken or tuna (I usually open tuna for tuna mayo sandwiches so save myself some), boiled eggs. Lidl sell salami at 66p/pack - I have a slice or 2 with some cheese and a little salad - lasts me a week.

I don't tend to snack but have phases when I want something (usually when I am tired or TOM) so keep nuts in the cupboard and SF jelly for a treat (which a tiny splash of cream).

I keep small bottles filled with water in the fridge - I much prefer cold water and having the fridge stocked is handy but I do drink tea and the odd cup of coffee.

Another tip is to make extra and freeze a portion - handy to have a "readymeal" in the freezer for those nights when you don't want to cook!

As you have already said, I don't feel hungry that much - I tend to save my carbs for my evening meal and have small snacks for breakfast/lunch - having lost 2 1/2 stone and feeling healthier than I have done for a long time - it works for me!

carblife is a low carb forum - very helpful and some good recipes

MrsE_2

ias76 wrote: »

I have decided to reduce the amount of pasta, bread, rice etc in my diet. No its not the atkins diet. I eat plenty of fruit, veg and the odd treat or two.

I was wondering what ideas you had for meals, especially breakfast - especially ideas that don't involve eggs. I love eggs but not every day.

My thoughts so far:

Mainly plenty of meat (tuna, chicken, beef, salmon etc) with roasted veg or salad

Soups (Lentil, mixed bean etc)

Great idea for a thread, it's how I'm trying to eat. It's difficult on a budget.