Food Choices While In Induction for the Non-Cooker

[mstamika]

I'm very new to this bb and currently in the first week of induction; I'm on day 4.

I could really use some help with food/menu choices for really busy and/or lazy people ( not sure which one I am, but I'm probably both ).

The truth is I am not much of a cooker and on top of it I work about 70 hours a week, which I really think is one of the reasons I don't feel like cooking. To top thing off I will be starting school soon.

My menu so far has been not the best in terms of getting within the 20 grams a day of carbs for induction but the carbs really are not so much coming from things that have too many carbs as much as I have such long hours and eat while I'm awake for all those hours because I get hungry.
ARRGGHHHH

Please Help! I need some ideas... thanks in advance

[Debralynn]

Make yourself a shopping list. I like to keep alot of convenient ready to eat foods on hand, that I can eat alone, or combine to make a meal.

Bags of salad (all green - no carrot shreds)
Eggs (I try to keep at least 6 hard boiled on hand at all times, good to top salad for extra protein, deviled eggs, egg salad
Tuna in cans
Mayo
Cheese Favorite variety, sliced is most versitile. String cheese is also convenient
Deli Turkey or Ham (watch the nitrates)
Marie's Salad Dressing (In produce dept, I prefer Blue Cheese or Ranch)
Precut Celery Sticks
Cream Cheese (the chive variety is really good)

With these items on hand, you have a ton of meal options:

Chef salad
Omelets
Meat/Cheese Roll ups
Meat/Cream Cheese Roll ups
Tuna Salad
Deviled Eggs
Egg Salad
Stuffed Celery

They are all quick options, and pack quick for on the go.

I also keep in freezer:

Bag of Frozen Chicken (If cooking, I make extra portions for later)
Pack of Frozen Hamburger Patties that can be cooked from frozen (for when I don't have time to thaw. IE: Ranch Burgers or Bubba Burgers)

I really do enjoy a nice burger topped with cheddar and a salad with my fave dressing. It's filling and only takes 15 min to make.

Hope this helps!

[Squiggle]

I hate cooking. More so, I hate all of the dishes leftover.

Debralynn's list is awesome! Precooked chicken and burgers are usually great, and if I have the time I cook chicken breasts while I'm doing something else. They can be great snacks and make chicken salad (when you're sick of tuna salad...I sure am ) I make mine with chicken, mayo and curry powder.

Most of my favourite meals involve a piece of meat on top of a bed of spinach (you can get prewashed, ready to use) with store bought dressing and cheese.

Whip up some eggs/cheese/spices and bake them in muffin tins... these are great for when you don't feel like cooking.

I know in general, I just snack on pieces of cheese or a spoonful of natural peanut butter (probably not okay for induction, but it has 2 carbs per spoonful) to fill me up.

[2big4mysize]

if you have a crock pot and don't work from home ( smelling the food cooking all day can drive you to eat even more) you could easily but some meat or poultry in it with some fluids spicesand herbs and have a home cooked meal ready when you get in.


Many folk take one day a week and fix mega amounts of food and then bag it in serving sized containers and just rehaet and add one veggies for their meals too.

Happy low carbing

[mstamika]

Debralynn, Squiggle, and 2big4mysize I appreciate the suggestions.

I checked out your journal Debralynn and was able to see some other foods I might like to check out, same with yours from fit day Squiggle.

The crock pot thing is a good idea 2b4ms, is there a low carb crock pot website?

[2big4mysize]

just leave out the carbs and sugar and you can adapt any recipe.

I do a Carolina BBQ which is vinegar based pork and beef just add the meat to the crockpot and 1/4 cup vinegar dillute to make one cup cover and cook on low heat for 8-12 hours depending on how big your meat cut is. I add hot peppers to mine as it cooks cause I like it spicey. then during last 30 min add 1 8 ounce can of tomato sauce if you like tomato based BBQ very low carb.

Whole chicken works real well just season it like you were baking in the oven and cook on low till done. I use a meat thermometer casue I'm a biggie about killing germs in my foods.

Chili works good too as does taco meats

I have done peppers onions and beef in it too

[Debralynn]

Originally Posted by mstamika

I checked out your journal Debralynn and was able to see some other foods I might like to check out, same with yours from fit day Squiggle.

Feel free to let me know if you want any recipes for things I made. Most of them have minimal ingredients, are quick and easy!

Sounds like you are on your way!

[Squiggle]

Same here... my fitday is empty lately because I only input all my foods when I stall (I go crazy measuring everything otherwise...)

Most of what I eat is taco salad (only have to cook the ground beef) chicken breasts (precooked, you can make a nice salad quickly) or hamburger patties on top of spinach or mixed greens. That's about what I live on, basically. Because I'm lazy

[mstamika]

Sqiggle or anyone else reading this...

I found this product called Carb Well by Balance and it says Net Carbs 2g

Nut Facts:
Calories 200
Fat 8g
Total Carbs 22g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Sugar 1g
Sugar Alcohol 19g
Protein 14g

How reliable is that assessment since it has so many sugar alcohols and is it okay for induction?

Thanks

[mstamika]

Yesterday I had a decaf Americano with half and half and put a dash of nutmeg , pumkin, and cinnamon and it was soooo good.... and I didn't have to cook

[2big4mysize]

Originally Posted by mstamika

Sqiggle or anyone else reading this...

I found this product called Carb Well by Balance and it says Net Carbs 2g

Nut Facts:
Calories 200
Fat 8g
Total Carbs 22g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Sugar 1g
Sugar Alcohol 19g
Protein 14g

How reliable is that assessment since it has so many sugar alcohols and is it okay for induction?

Thanks

SAs are the bane of low carbing induction. wait until you see how well you lose low carbing before you add a food with those mythical magical noncounting counting carbs.

And good for you with your pumpkin americano

[mstamika]

Tell me more 2b4ms? SAs sabatoge?

[2big4mysize]

because in blood sugar impact tests done on a very limited number fo folk ( ususally normal weight healthy males) low carb food manufactureres say Sugar alcohols do not effect blood sugar so we don't have to count them. However many dieabetics ahve using themselves as lab rats posted they effect tehir blood sugar levels, and many low carbers who joyfully eat all those frankenfoods with the net effective carbs find out real quickly about the bathroom issues from them and also their weight loss slows and or stops.

The EU and Canada forced the companies to adjust the cal and carb count of many SAs upward too so be very careful if you go that route. And if your weight loss slows give those things up first.

they aklso feed the sweet thooth factor making you want those sweet things more too. Once you have abstained for a couple of weeks except for TOM cravings you will discover you don't want sweets any more and how sweet the veggies and meat taste.

Once you know how you do with low glycemic carbs doing your plan for a few weeks you might try one and see what it does to your ketosis and weight loss.

[mstamika]

Why those sneeky people. Thanks for the info 2b4ms. I actually am at that TOM and craving, seriously craving, so I am going to hunt down a few so I don't take a tumble off the wagon again. I got pretty bruised up yesterday but am back on my feet today and with good news to boot.

As far as menu choices for legal sweets I'm on the hunt and have been on Linda's menu site looking around for quick and easy. If you have a few gems please throw them my way, especially the diamonds

[Wendalina]

My saving grace during TOM, is 1 cup peanut butter (Low carb) mixed with one tub of cool whip. Mix it together and it tastes like peanut butter pie. Very rich so you only need a few bites to help you "make it through"

[mstamika]

Wendalina,
Thank you for responding to my post. Are there any other flavors you mix? I'm not a big peanut butter fan but I'll try anything once to combat TOM cravings!

[2big4mysize]

cool whip is not legal Atkins foods read the ingredients mix your PB with cream cheese and then whip it with a mixer if you got one for mousse texture it not it is fudgey texture.

1 T cocoa powder, 1 T either cream or cream cheeses softened, and 1 sweetener serving of choice mixed together and then frozen as blobs about 4 will do nicely will get you through a choclate craving. they are .75 net carbs no sugar alcohols and induction legal since Dr A sasy cocoa powder (the unsweetened in the can stuff not the hot cocoa packets) is a spice.

[Debralynn]

Just did the cream cheese muffins. They work great, and you can use sugar free DaVinci syrup to sub for the sweetener to lower carb and add flavors (chocolate or raspberry are GREAT!)

1 pkg block style cream cheese - room temp
1 egg
1/4 cup splenda (or sweetener of choice, or DaVinci syrup)
1/4 tsp vanilla

Beat all ingredients together, pour into 6 regular size lined muffin cups, or 12 mini.
Bake at 350 for about 20 min.
Chill overnight and eat cold the next day.

Just made mine w/raspberry and vanilla DaVinci. Super yummy, about 2.5 carbs each for a reg sized one!

If portion control is a problem, freeze them and only remove the allowed serving for the day!

[Wendalina]

wow! I really need to get the atkins book I guess, I thought I could remember how to do it, but obviously not...thanks! no wonder my weight was stalling - not that I ate a whole tub or anything, but little things like that can really make the scale stand still.

thanks again! I think tomorrow I am going to have to start all over.

anyone have tips on how to "trick" yourself in to drinking water???

Wendy

[PalmTreeGal]

Originally Posted by 2big4mysize

Dr A. says cocoa powder (the unsweetened in the can stuff not the hot cocoa packets) is a spice.

Where in DANDR do you read this? I haven't seen it, but I know you know that book inside and out.

Personally, as I strive AGAIN for a clean Induction, I am avoiding it, because it does have some carbs and I'm not good at portion control with it, sadly.

[scandalouslyglam]

Originally Posted by 2big4mysize

just leave out the carbs and sugar and you can adapt any recipe.

I do a Carolina BBQ which is vinegar based pork and beef just add the meat to the crockpot and 1/4 cup vinegar dillute to make one cup cover and cook on low heat for 8-12 hours depending on how big your meat cut is. I add hot peppers to mine as it cooks cause I like it spicey. then during last 30 min add 1 8 ounce can of tomato sauce if you like tomato based BBQ very low carb.

Whole chicken works real well just season it like you were baking in the oven and cook on low till done. I use a meat thermometer casue I'm a biggie about killing germs in my foods.

Chili works good too as does taco meats

I have done peppers onions and beef in it too

I wonder how this would be if I added some splenda? I like a slightly sweet BBQ sauce....

[scandalouslyglam]

Originally Posted by Wendalina

wow! I really need to get the atkins book I guess, I thought I could remember how to do it, but obviously not...thanks! no wonder my weight was stalling - not that I ate a whole tub or anything, but little things like that can really make the scale stand still.

thanks again! I think tomorrow I am going to have to start all over.

anyone have tips on how to "trick" yourself in to drinking water???

Wendy

Get the Book at Goodwill...I was there the other day and there were 3 copies!~

[mstamika]

Deb,
The muffins sound so good! too bad I'm a super lazy cook Where do you usually get the divinci stuff? Maybe one of these days when I'm not working 75 hours @ 7 days a week I'll feel motivated to cook the muffins. Can I cook them in the microwave? I could probably do it at work.

2b4mysize cool whip is not legal??? what about heavy whip cream? because I've been using heavy whipping cream with my SF jello.

Any other mix besides peanut butter with the cream cheese/cool whip? nothing against peanut butter, just wondering...

[Wendalina]

I think heavy whipping cream is allowed...I believe that someone told me the sugar in cool whip is what is a no no....

I am very anxious to hear if the splenda works in the bbq sauce....that sounds like it could be a little bit of heaven...

Also, I did the Revolutionary Rolls last night and they were great...had a ham and egg sandwich for breakfast - very nice switch and the RR's only have 1 carb! woohoo!

[mstamika]

Originally Posted by Wendalina

Also, I did the Revolutionary Rolls last night....

What are those?