| If you've jumped on the low carb bandwagon and | | | | special whole wheat pasta. Layer about two rows of |
| found it has worked really well for you, chances are | | | | the whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce, small curd |
| you've run out of meal ideas at one time or another. | | | | cottage cheese, some cooked and crumbled |
| When cooking low carb, it isn't always easy to come | | | | hamburger meat which can also be mixed with either |
| up with new foods to keep it interesting. Here, we'll | | | | vegetarian or pork sausage, and mozzarella cheese. |
| discuss some easy low carb foods you can prepare | | | | As mentioned previously, you can also make this a |
| that'll mix things up a little and prevent low carb | | | | vegetarian dish by substituting the meat with either soy |
| boredom. | | | | versions of meat or a vegetable of your choice such |
| Cooking low carb means you should always have a | | | | as broccoli or spinach. |
| few food necessities around to whip up a good meal | | | | Another excellent low carb meal is eggplant parmesan. |
| that is high in protein. | | | | Lightly salt thinly sliced eggplant, dip it in egg whites and |
| Some of these low carb necessities are: | | | | fry in a pan with olive oil or low fat cooking spray until |
| 1.) Low carb bread crumbs | | | | golden brown. Layer the eggplants with sauteed |
| 2.) A variety of cheeses such as Muenster, Provolone | | | | mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. |
| and Mozzarella - which are lower in fat than orange | | | | Sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese and bake at |
| cheeses like cheddar. | | | | 350 degrees for 30-45 miutes. |
| 3.) Low carb wraps that are about eight inches around | | | | If you want a lighter dinner, try flaking the sweet and |
| and high in fiber. | | | | spicy tuna over a small bed of brown rice. You may |
| 4.) Cottage cheese | | | | season the rice with a dash of salt and pepper and a |
| 5.) Yogurt | | | | hint of sesame oil for extra flavor also. What you end |
| 6.) Almonds, macadamia nuts and brazil nuts are all | | | | up with is a delicious low fat, high fiber meal that leave |
| excellent sources of protein and omega 3 fatty acids, | | | | you feeling lighter and satisfied for hours. |
| which help slow the absorption and utilization of | | | | More Low Carb Cooking: Comfort Foods that Won't |
| calories. | | | | Pack on the Pounds |
| 7.) Flavored tunas - a favorite of mine is sweet and | | | | An excellent low carb substitute for a common |
| spicy tuna by Starkist. | | | | comfort food is turkey meatloaf. This one is both light |
| 8.) Brown rice, the slow cooked variety. | | | | on carbs and light on fat. Take 2 pounds of ground |
| Once you have these "staples", you'll always have | | | | turkey, about 3/4 cup of low carb bread crumbs, 2 |
| food around for a simple lunch or dinner and snacks. | | | | eggs, and a meatloaf seasoning packet such as |
| The cheese can be used as a snack by itself or you | | | | McCormicks meatloaf seasoning. Mix it all together and |
| can wrap a piece of deli pepperoni around it and have | | | | bake. An optional topping is a low carb BBQ sauce for |
| a snack that tastes like pizza bites. If you want to | | | | an extra zing. |
| have a hot snack, try frying pepperoni in a pan with | | | | You can even make a low carb pizza. Specialty |
| the mozzarella over it, and you can even dip it in a | | | | stores and even some grocery stores carry special |
| tomato sauce. Another good snack is deli ham rolled | | | | low carb pizza crusts. The toppings are all naturally |
| with cream cheese and a slice of dill pickle. Believe it | | | | low in carbs. Just add some tomato sauce - |
| or not, this is a great flavor combination! | | | | preferably one without any sugars, mozzarella or |
| Yogurt with some slivered almonds also makes an | | | | provolone cheese and toppings such as pepperoni, |
| excellent snack, and they even have some low carb | | | | sausage, mushrooms or other veggies. |
| varieties of yogurt on the market that are pretty tasty. | | | | Eating low carb no longer has to be a prison sentence. |
| You can also eat this as a breakfast since it is filling | | | | There are hundreds of specialty low carb foods now |
| enough to replace a meal. The same goes for cottage | | | | available at your local grocery store and all it takes is a |
| cheese. You can even make a low carb lasagna with | | | | little creativity to eat a diet filled with variety and flavor. |