Low Carb Help Please

I had the same issue, while my hubs drops weight easily with this...I find it. So I don't do Atkins any more. I also won't cook exclusively for him (he tends to eat only meat, no veggies - which is completely unhealthy!) because I don't have time.

What I usually do is offer a well-rounded meal, with a protein, starch, and vegetable. The starch and vegetable comprise the carbs part. So, for instance we may have chicken breast, broccoli, and pasta. Or steak, potatoes, and salad. You get the idea... He can leave out the starch and avoid it.

I often will also leave out the starch, it helps me control my weight too...but I find that my kids love the starch, so I include it on more elaborate mealtimes for them.

I have changed my purchasing at the grocery to things that are healthier such as whole wheat pasta for spaghetti night, AND I have also tried spaghetti squash for my own personal substitute for noodles - and I found out I love it! (My kids and hubby do not.) I also now eat brown rice and prefer it to white rice.

I usually don't buy bread except for my son's sandwiches at school.

I will also make a pot of hard-boiled eggs once per week, and buy string cheese for hubby's snacks. If I cut up things like red peppers to send along with him, he will take them - but he won't seek them out on his own.

I try to change things up now and then to include more veggies. As I said, my husband doesn't naturally like to eat them. So I will make steak salad for dinner, combining one thing he LOVES with one that is not so exciting to him. He has ended up LOVING steak salad! (It's just lettuce with veggies and sliced steak.) He also doesn't eat stir-fry...but now he does! Lots of veggies in that.

As for veggies being boring...yeah, they sometimes are! I have a few faves, I try new ones occasionally, and if you are really stuck - MAKE A LIST that you keep inside a cupboard of different ones. That way it's handy when you get bored. i.e. Broccoli, lima beans, green beans, cauliflower, squash, lettuce/salad, cabbage, beets, corn, and so on...you can surely come up with more and find a ton of new things to try! I have discovered things like I hate beets...but I'll eat them in a salad (go figure!) I don't know why, but if that's how I eat them...they are healthy...I'm all for it.

After writing all that, it sure seems like I cater to him, huh? *laughing!* Just trying to keep everyone happy and healthy.

Good Luck!

You sound like you know what you need to do to eat healthy.
* avoid the high fat items your hubby will be eating
* cut down on the carbs you eat
* increase veggie intake

One thing I found helpful when I was in the transition phase of a low-carb diet was to use the Glycemic Index to help me figure out which carbs were "worth" eating. The lower the glycemic index number, the better. For example, brown rice and white rice might look like they have the same # of carbs, but white rice gets processed by your body rapidly. Brown rice takes much longer for your body to digest/break down. That means you feel fuller from it for longer, and a smaller portion probably will do (if you remember to eat slowly). I know there are "low glycemic index" diets out there, might be worth investigating.

As for preparing veggies so I don't get bored? Well, I think I look at certain parts of the diet as "must eats". I always have a cup of steamed broccoli, naked (no salt, no oil) at dinner. Edamame is a great veggie, high protein, easy to prepare. We buy the vegetable mixes from Trader Joe's and do stir fry with them. Do you like teriyaki? Soy Vey makes a great teriyaki sauce, and a fantastic wasabi teriyaki sauce. Those would definitely jazz up some veggies, and you can use just a tiny bit so not to add too many extra calories (sugar) and sodium!

Good Luck! I have a 4 month old, and I'm down to pre-pregnancy size... but I also have a 2.5 year old and I'm NOWHERE near the pre-pregnancy size I was with her! We're working on it, and as baby #2 gets older and sleeps better, I find I have much more energy to take care of myself! Take care.

For the veggies, stir fry with a little olive oil and add a little curry. Amazing result. But start easy with the curry! YOu might want to add a little chicken broth to the mix to make a good texture.

Hi K.,

try roasting your veggies on a cookie sheet/baking tray in the oven, 400 degrees. Brush with a little olive oil (healthy fat) and sprinkle with spices (oregano, basil, thyme, minced garlic). A few sprinkles of parmesan cheese also give more flavor. Roast until just done, still a little crunchy.

Check out a few vegetarian cookbooks, even if you do eat meat, just to get new ideas. Soups/stews are also a great way to add more veggies to your diet.

S.

Can you eat spicy? i add a lot of extra flavor to my veggies- saute or roast or bbq with healthy oil, then add spices (garlic & chili) or premade sauces (some have a lot of calories so you have to watch) you can do this at the end so your kiddo can have plain or a different sauce (mine is learning to like a lot of flavors). i like sweet and sour, House of Tsang Peanut sauce (best premade and you don't need very much), soy & Sweet rice wine, terikayi, italian (shake spices or dressing) poppyseed dressing (with snap peas). roast/bbq carrots (halved) with olive oil, brown sugar and ginger.

premade spice mixes are also fast and easy- lemon pepper or cajun/blackened flavor (best for meat/fish- good for husband's diet and you can have yours on a salad)

good luck! i wish i was down to my last 5 pounds!! :)