Low Carbohydrate Diet Recipes

The term 'low carbohydrate diet', also referred to as 'low glycemic diet', 'controlled carbohydrate diet' or 'reduced carbohydrate diet', basically encompasses the ideas propounded by several books, including Atkins, Carbohydrate Addicts Diet, Sugar Busters, Protein Power, South Beach Zone, and so on. All of which advocate the restricting the consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods. While some of these diets restrict the overall amount of carbohydrate, others concentrate on reducing certain kinds of foods, usually those that are high in sugar and starch. And because starch is turned into sugar in the body, most low carbohydrate diet experts do not differentiate between the two. Other low carb diets focus on the glycemic aspect of the food consumed. One of the most popular low carb diets is the 'No White Foods' concept, which simply means doing away with potatoes, white rice, white flour, and sugars.

Some of the advantages of a low carbohydrate diet are: sustained loss of weight; the stabilization of blood sugar levels, which is particularly important for people with diabetes; a reduction in insulin levels; an improvement in the blood lipid profile, or the lowering of harmful cholesterol; a reduction of blood pressure; a reduction of hunger between meals, which helps to prevent snacking on hi-carb or sugary foods; and increased energy.

So, here are a few low carbohydrate diet recipes, which are delicious, healthy, and will help you to stay on track on your low-carb weight loss program:

Cheesilicious Chicken

12 oz chicken breasts
1 tbsp butter
3 ham slices, thin
1/2 cup cheddar
1/2 cup cream
salt
pepper
garlic powder
1/4 tsp liquid smoke

Pound the chicken, and then sauté it in butter until done. Add the slices of ham into the pan and warm them. Then, remove both the chicken as well as the ham. Next, melt some butter in the pan, and add the liquid smoke, seasonings and cream, and then the cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. Place a slice of ham on each piece of chicken and pour the sauce over the top.

Szechwan Shrimp

12 oz shrimp
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 tsp guar gum
1/2 cup salsa
1/4 cup cinnamon syrup, sugar free
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp dijon mustard
2 tbsp peanut butter
1/4 tsp ginger
Some vegetable oil

Except for the mushrooms and the shrimp, mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Heat some oil in a pan and sauté the shrimp in it, then add the mushrooms. When the shrimp is almost done, add in the sauce and stir until done.

Pot Roast

2 lb chuck pot roast
2 cans beef broth
3 tbsp garlic, minced
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 cup red wine
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp basil
2 tsp oregano
pepper
1 tsp liquid smoke
Some oil

Brown the pot roast using a Dutch oven placed on a stovetop, adding a little oil if required. Remove it from the pan, and sauté the onions in the oil until they turn brown. Put the beef back into the pot along with the rest of the ingredients, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for about 3-4 hours, until done.

Garlicky Turnips

3 cups turnip, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp melted butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
salt
pepper

Cook the cubes of turnip along with the cloves of garlic in boiling water for about 15 minutes. Then, drain it out. Use a food processor to mash the turnips, and add the butter, cream, salt and pepper.

Garlicky Baby Spinach

1 bag of baby spinach
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil

Heat some oil and sauté the garlic in it, then add the spinach, tossing until it is covered in the oil and garlic mixture and starts becoming soft.