Easy low carb meals for lazy people?

[EasyHeart]

I love my rice cooker. And my crockpot. But I really love my wok!!!

 

Yeesh, some of these simple recipes are way too complicated for me. I just had my usual breakfast of a half-pound of ground beef and a big pot of frozen broccoli. Prep time is about 30 seconds and cooks while I shave and shower. It doesn't get any easier than that.

 

Stir-fries are another staple of mine. I don't follow any recipes for those. Cut up the meat into bite sized pieces and cook it in the wok. Take the meat out and then cook the veggies. Mix them up at the end. Eat.

 

Stews are good, but I mostly eat those in the winter. Chili and curry, too. I think of stews, chilis, and curries as the same thing -- meat and veggies simmered over low heat -- just with different spices. Sometimes when I've been really busy, I'll take a Sunday morning and cook a big pot of all three, put them in indiviudual containers and fill my frig. Convenience and variety!

 

Roasted chicken is one of the easiest dishes in the world: chicken, salt, pepper and olive oil, then stick it in the oven. Once you get the hang of that, you can explore other spices or stuff it with lemons and garlic. Or just buy one at the store. A lot of grocery stores will have a weekly sale on roasted chicken for $5 or $7 or whatever (My store has "Five buck clucks" on Friday). Those are usually a good deal.

 

I'm not a fan personally of protein shakes. They don't fill you up unless you add a lot of fat to them, and if you're eating low-carb it's highly unlikely that you need more protein. And most protein powder are basically sewage unless you spend a lot of money on it. One of my goals is to avoid processed foods and there's not much that's more processed than protein powders.

 

If you want some carbs, beans and peas are a good choice. You can get a pound of peas or a can of beans for $1 and all you have to do is heat them up. Easy peasy. Literally.

 

Nuts are a great snack food, but you have to be careful. Most of the commercial nuts you see in the stores are (a) really old and (b) cooked in nasty oils. Look for raw nuts (the only ingredient is the nut) and roast them yourself as you need them. Just put them on a pan and put them in a low oven (250F) for 15-20 minutes. I highly recommend nuts.com for cheap, high quality nuts.

[kiss_andmakeup]

Black bean vegetarian chili. You'd be amazed at how filling it is…plus it's packed with tons of protein, fiber, and vitamins; it's tasty; and you can make a giant pot and then reheat it throughout the week.

 

My favourite salad is a caesar with blackened whitefish or shrimp…yum. You could do blackened chicken instead. The spices almost give it a bit of a crust (minus carbs) and the cool creaminess of the caesar dressing complements the heat from the pepper.

[pink_sugar]

The easiest is really a salad with chicken or turkey breast, as long as you're careful with what dressing you use.

 

But if you're like me and can't stand salads... I often make a stew or soup with meat, carrots, turnips, and other veggies, and eat that with steamed rice. IMO rice gets an undeservedly bad rap - it's one of the lowest calorie carbs along with boiled potatoes, lower than pasta and less than half that of bread. You have to let it simmer but it takes minimal time and effort to prepare, though you do need a slow cooker and a rice cooker.

 

I agree. Throw together a burrito bowl....brown rice, beans, salsa and your choice of protein. (ditch the tortillas)

[pink_sugar]

Also, you can throw some garlic and shrimp on the pan....maybe a tid bit of olive oil and a couple pinches of flour. (add some red pepper flakes if you like heat) Makes a great and filling meal within minutes. I usually throw together a quick salad with that.

[EasyHeart]

I agree. Throw together a burrito bowl....brown rice, beans, salsa and your choice of protein. (ditch the tortillas)

I call this my Chipotle dinner.

[somedude81]

Thank you guys so much for the tips in this thread.

 

I'm going to go shopping soon.

 

This sounds like a real diet change and it makes me feel a bit anxious to be honest.

[Robert Z]

Pretty much small carnitas type taco. I just use one small tortilla per taco and pack it with as much beef or chicken as I can.

 

 

You can make tacos out of just about anything. I've even joked about making peanut butter tacos and wondered...

 

 

I often make stir fry tacos, and omelet tacos loaded with vegetables.

[Anela]

Thank you guys so much for the tips in this thread.

 

I'm going to go shopping soon.

 

This sounds like a real diet change and it makes me feel a bit anxious to be honest.

 

Just make one change at a time. Start with something like soup/stew in the slow cooker, or a small smoothie once a day. With the nutribullet, I tended to make half the amount of what was listed in smoothie recipes, unless it was one that came with the blender.

[Robert Z]

Referring to a previous post, beans and rice are supposed to be off the menu for low carb.

 

 

No bread, rice, pasta, or taters.

[somedude81]

Just make one change at a time. Start with something like soup/stew in the slow cooker, or a small smoothie once a day. With the nutribullet, I tended to make half the amount of what was listed in smoothie recipes, unless it was one that came with the blender.

 

Yeah, the nutribullet seems to be a small easy to way to start making a change.

 

I'll also pick up a slow cooker soon.

[veggirl]

If you can swing it, I LOVE my ninja blender thingy. I make juices/smoothies with a banana, pear/peach/berries (one of those, not all 3), a handful of spinach and 4 ice cubes. The ninja makes quick-ass work of the ice, it's awesome. I think they might be kinda expensive, I got mine for Xmas. Maybe you could get one for your bday or something. They are great quality.

 

SD, what do you typically eat day to day? it might be easier to offer easy alternatives w/ that info.

[Tayla]

Variety in moderation is the key. Proper fluid intake, raw veggies, following the 5 key foods of grains, protein,dairy,veggies, and fruits. Carbs are not taboo, if you excercise and maintain lower ingestion. Oat brans or brans for fiber are a needed. All your organs require a balance of nutrients. Changing your selection of foods is the key. Not a fan of the fade diets. The atkins is lo no carbs... Folks lose quickly and two years down the road they plump when u cook

Em! Not much to cook when most foods that your body does need are from plants... Seafood and omega3 sourced can be easy to

Prepare.

[Robert Z]

Variety in moderation is the key. Proper fluid intake, raw veggies, following the 5 key foods of grains, protein,dairy,veggies, and fruits. Carbs are not taboo, if you excercise and maintain lower ingestion. Oat brans or brans for fiber are a needed. All your organs require a balance of nutrients. Changing your selection of foods is the key. Not a fan of the fade diets. The atkins is lo no carbs... Folks lose quickly and two years down the road they plump when u cook

Em! Not much to cook when most foods that your body does need are from plants... Seafood and omega3 sourced can be easy to

Prepare.

 

You mean people on Atkins get fat when they start eating carbs again? What a surprise!

 

I've been on Atkins for almost 4 years...I think... I'm starting to lose track. It isn't a fad diet. It is a lifestyle. And I haven't gained back the weight but I do have a lot more muscle. However, if you make it a fad diet, it will be a fad diet. Also, the induction phase of the diet is intense. It kicks you into hard ketosis which takes about three days, lasts a few weeks, then backs off to a less intense level for a few months. After that comes the maintenance program which isn't nearly as intense. Most people are thinking of Phase I and II when they think of Atkins.

 

I don't know if it's good for everyone to go true low carb or not. I heard that at one medical conference, it was argued that people with a strong history of cancer in their family should go low carb, and people with a strong history of heart disease should go low fat. But you should do one or the other. The killer is high fat and high carb... and of course, all of the salt in processed foods. By eating natural foods, your salt intake will drop dramatically [unless you sabotage it with the salt shaker]. And before long you won't require nearly as much salt for taste.

 

 

But you can get all the fiber you need from Metamucil and vegetables. .

Edited July 15, 2014 by Robert Z

[contact1]

Peanut butter.

 

 

Just get a jar and a spoon and there is your no-carb diet Or even my favorite, a slice of turkey sandwich meat with some peanut butter in it, all rolled up and washed down with some water

[Els]

Peanut butter.

Just get a jar and a spoon and there is your no-carb diet

 

I love peanut butter, but if I were to do this I'd gain weight pretty quickly!

[amaysngrace]

I love peanut butter, but if I were to do this I'd gain weight pretty quickly!

 

Throw it on some celery.

[Robert Z]

I love peanut butter, but if I were to do this I'd gain weight pretty quickly!

 

 

Yep, I have to watch the peanut butter. It is easy to eat too many calories. But it makes an excellent fast meal on the go. Sometimes I'll just grab a tablespoon of pb and a small glass on milk before running out the door. And that usually holds me over until the next meal.

[Els]

Throw it on some celery.

 

Eek. I can't stand celery...

 

Yep, I have to watch the peanut butter. It is easy to eat too many calories. But it makes an excellent fast meal on the go. Sometimes I'll just grab a tablespoon of pb and a small glass on milk before running out the door. And that usually holds me over until the next meal.

 

Oh, true. I grab a banana for a fast snack.

[pink_sugar]

I call this my Chipotle dinner.

 

That's what was aiming for.

[pink_sugar]

You mean people on Atkins get fat when they start eating carbs again? What a surprise!

 

I've been on Atkins for almost 4 years...I think... I'm starting to lose track. It isn't a fad diet. It is a lifestyle. And I haven't gained back the weight but I do have a lot more muscle. However, if you make it a fad diet, it will be a fad diet. Also, the induction phase of the diet is intense. It kicks you into hard ketosis which takes about three days, lasts a few weeks, then backs off to a less intense level for a few months. After that comes the maintenance program which isn't nearly as intense. Most people are thinking of Phase I and II when they think of Atkins.

 

I don't know if it's good for everyone to go true low carb or not. I heard that at one medical conference, it was argued that people with a strong history of cancer in their family should go low carb, and people with a strong history of heart disease should go low fat. But you should do one or the other. The killer is high fat and high carb... and of course, all of the salt in processed foods. By eating natural foods, your salt intake will drop dramatically [unless you sabotage it with the salt shaker]. And before long you won't require nearly as much salt for taste.

 

 

But you can get all the fiber you need from Metamucil and vegetables. .

 

But there is a reason Dr. Atkins died fat!

[Imported]

You can make tacos out of just about anything. I've even joked about making peanut butter tacos and wondered...

 

 

I often make stir fry tacos, and omelet tacos loaded with vegetables.

 

If you're not already, try making your own tortillas. Many of the store bought corn tortillas are just crap and taste horrible. The difference can be huge.

 

I have a tortilla press and just make my own masa, then press it out and roll a little thinner into @4" diameter. I think store bought is usually 6" for tacos and 8" for burritos. I think they even have bigger than 8", but I would never make a burritto that requires more than an 8" tortilla. I can already go over portions with just the 8" size so even that is more tortilla than I should have.

 

If you don't want to make your own, just shop around for better tortillas. I think they even make some that you need to go to the refrigerated section to find and all you need to to do is cook it yourself before use. Seriously, some of the best selling tortillas are just crap that people buy because they don't know better and you're really doing yourself an injustice eating that crap.

[Imported]

Man I could never go low carb. I admire those who do. Gimme all the bread!! anyway yes get a slow cooker. I used it today for my bf. dumped in pork roast and covered w BBQ sauce. Pulled pork. It'll be lunch all week for him.

 

 

I refuse to give up freshly baked sourdough bread!!! I do put a lot of butter on it, so I guess that is kinda like Atkins right?

[Robert Z]

But there is a reason Dr. Atkins died fat!

 

 

No mystery if true. He was eating too many calories. Talking the talk doesn't automatically mean he was walking the walk.

 

 

There is to my knowledge zero evidence that the diet doesn't work. People only get fat when they violate the diet. What happens is that most people can't take it. Avoiding carbs is tough. This is why one has to view it as a lifestyle change and not a diet. And no diet really works unless you maintain the change in your life. To me, to eat a piece of bread would be very strange. Foods like this are simply not a part of my life anymore and never will be. But it takes commitment and a decisive attitude. There is no looking back.

 

 

True also, never say never. When I'm the age Atkins was when he died (early seventies?), and depending on my health and life, I might start ordering pizzas again as well.

Edited July 15, 2014 by Robert Z

[lisahpandy]

I have been on strict low carb a few months. Here are some quick dinners and snacks I found:

 

breakfast: microwave an egg in a loosely covered bowl, 1-2 min

breakfast: microwave per-cooked sausage or bacon, or bacon wrapped in paper towel 3-4 min

 

Half an avocado for breakfast because fat helps you loose fast, and it's a "good carb."

 

Light string cheese works for a snack

Beef sticks (check the label) are OK for snack hopefully lower salt level

Pepper cheese is a nice snack

Atkins Low Carb shakes or GNC low carb shakes

 

Dinner/Lunches

Pan fry a hamburger, top with cheese if you want, can by pre-cooked or make the patties yourself

 

Mini-meat loaf using ground beef, herbs, some flax seeds, egg to bind, a few onions, back in a standard size muffin tin. You'll be amazed how much fat drains out (thats kinda bad fat but it does fill you up)

 

Fish baked with herbs or fried in olive oil

 

buy a rotisserie chicken and work off that for maybe all 3 meals, or make three simple changes with Mexican chicken with salsa and avocado and taco seasoning

 

Do a slow cooking pork roast in crock pot, add lots of southwest spices (like a baja flaver, it will have a few grams of sugar), experiment with what flavors you think be good. Start slow cooker on high for an hour or two and turn it down, then on low for 10 hours so it falls apart. You now have shredded port for tacos (use lettuce wraps to hold the taco, or just eat the pork as is, and add sour cream and hot sauce and salsa and some onions are OK.

 

Basically any Roast meet works then you get creative with the flavors you add to it based on what you want to have that night. Don't use BBQ sauce or ketchup unless very sparingly.

[contact1]

I love peanut butter, but if I were to do this I'd gain weight pretty quickly!

 

Lol that's the point a low/no carb diet isn't going to make you lose weight if you are eating too many calories. There is no trickery to it, your calories just have to be less than what your body needs each day.