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I need low carb recipes! My husband and I have recently jumped on the low carb bandwagon and boy are we hungry. It's so hard to have an actual meal on this diet. If you have any low carb recipes, I would greatly appreciate it!

Samantha in North Carolina

Answers:

Be Careful

I've heard from lots of people that the low carb diets have really helped them lose weight. But folks need to be careful as NO carbs leads to ketosis which is a form of malnutrition. Carbs aren't what make you gain weight. Inactivity and lack of exercise (and sometimes heredity) cause an ill-fitting distribution of the fats we eat. What starches do is turn to sugar which promotes fat storing in cells.

The other issue is that most Americans eat processed, non-nutritive carbs - like white breads and cakes and cookies - which also tend to contain more bad fats than a slice of whole grain bread or a serving of rice.

The theory that if you get rid of the carbs, you get rid of the fat, only works short term - by creating a physical crisis in which the body believes it's starving (which it is) and then literaly eating away at its own stores until it finally begins to break down your muscle tissue. When it does that, a doctor will find protein in your urine - protien that used to be your body's tissue (like muscle tissue, and remember your heart is a muscle).

If you want to be on a low-carb diet, I suggest you have your urine checked for proteins. This way you can take advantage of a weight-loss jump-start without putting your health at risk. (08/19/2004)

By Allison Dey

Taco Salad

Here's one we have often since we are on the same diet. Taco salad without the taco. Pile lettuce on each plate. Cook ground turkey and taco seasonings. Pile on top of lettuce, then grated cheese, sour cream (a tiny bit), and then onions and tomatoes. Great taste, low carb and very filling.
Yummm. (08/26/2004)

By Rosemary

AS GOOD AS PIZZA

• Low-carb garlic & herb tortillas
• pizza sauce (your choice - I use regular sauce)
• mozzarella cheese
• pepperoni
• small amount of olive oil
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Put a small amount of olive oil in a skillet. Toast both side of the tortilla. Set oven to 350 degrees. Assemble your pizza. Bake on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes. Eat like a pig and make yummy noises ;) (08/26/2004)

By Suzanne Spencer

LOW-CARB MICROWAVE MEATLOAF

Haven't tried this one yet, but friend gave it to me

• 1lb gr. chuck
• 1 cup pork rinds
• 1 egg - beaten
• 1/2 c. heavy cream
• 2 tbsp. Worchestershire sauce
• 3/4 cup shredded cheese (your choice)
• salt to taste

Crush rinds into crumbs. Put chuck in microwave safe dish. Add rind crumbs, cream, egg, sauce and cheese. Salt to taste. Stir well and give the traditional loaf shape. Put into microwave for 14 minutes or until internal temp. is 150 degrees F.

Serves 4, 3 g. carbs per serving (08/26/2004)

By Suzanne Spencer

LOW CARB PANCAKES

• 1/4 cup, 0 carb egg protien powder (vanilla or plain)
• 2 tbls flax meal
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup heavy cream or coconut milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• pinch of sweetner (splenda, natrasweet,etc)

Add all ingredients into large mixing bowl and cook as you would regular pancakes.

6 g. per cake (08/26/2004)

By Suzanne Spencer

30 MINUTE CHILI

• 1 lb cooked hamburger
• 1 can stewed tomatoes
• 1 small can capers
• oregano to taste
• chili powder to taste
• seasoning salt to taste
• onion powder to taste

Simmer in pot on stovetop for 30 minutes. Viola - you're done! (08/26/2004)

By Suzanne Spencer