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What are Some Low Carb Dinners?

A Kaminsky
A Kaminsky

Diet fads wax and wane, and this has been the case with the low-carbohydrate diet. Atkins, South Beach, The Zone and Sugar Busters have all had their days of glory. However, eating a lower-carb diet is often healthy eating and those wishing to eat in a healthy way may want to consider a lower-carb diet.

One of the bugaboos in dieting is meal planning. What, exactly, makes up low carb dinners, for instance? Low carb dinners are often the main meal of the day, so they require some attention. The main thing a diner should know is how many grams of carbohydrates he or she wants to consume at any given meal. This aids in meal planning. Since protein and green vegetables have few or no carbs, low carb dinners featuring these items will be the most helpful.

Bacon has virtually no carbs, so it can be a good addition to a low carb meal.
Bacon has virtually no carbs, so it can be a good addition to a low carb meal.

The cook should ideally plan low carb dinners that are 50 percent vegetables, 25 percent protein and 25 percent carbohydrates. That is, vegetables (minus starchy veggies) should fill up half the dinner plate. Many cooks rely on salads of various kinds to help fill up the plate, and fresh salads made with a variety of greens (except iceberg lettuce) are healthy and nutritious. Other vegetables to consider when planning low carb dinners are green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, eggplant and the like. Vegetable medleys may also be popular with the family.

If using low carb pasta, lasagna can still be a low carb dinner.
If using low carb pasta, lasagna can still be a low carb dinner.

Proteins should be lean meats such as fish, turkey, white meat chicken and lean pork. Variety is the spice of life however, and cooks should not relentlessly cut out all suspicion of red meat from the diet. Having hamburgers twice a month isn’t going to kill anyone, especially if they are made from a 90/10 ratio of ground round. Cooks can even occasionally oven-fry chicken, or pan fry pork chops in nonstick pans. Ruthless diet adherence breeds dissatisfaction and discontent with a healthier lifestyle. Children can tolerate a higher amount of fat in their diets, and indeed, need a little more fat for their still-developing nervous systems (nerves are 90 percent fat, by the way).

Eggplant parmesan is a great low carb dinner option.
Eggplant parmesan is a great low carb dinner option.

Low carb dinners can still include small amounts of carbohydrates, if the entire family tolerates them well. Brown rice, potatoes and whole wheat pastas are all good sources of fiber and better-for-you carbohydrates. This means spaghetti and lasagna are still on the menu. Low-carb pasta is available in most grocery stores, so macaroni and cheese can be an occasional treat as well. Using low-carb pasta, the cook can make a garden-style spaghetti sauce for spaghetti or lasagna. Cheese is a low-carb food, so a cheese sauce can be added to veggies to make them more palatable for picky eaters. Cheese, in fact, makes many foods taste better.

Cauliflower is a low-carb food.
Cauliflower is a low-carb food.

Fruit is good in small amounts, and should never be eliminated from the diet. A cook needs to remember, though, that most fruit is sweet enough without adding any sugar or other sweetener. Strawberries may need a touch of sweetener, but most fruits stand well on their own.

Breakfast for dinner is always a great option for low carb dinners. Turkey bacon can be substituted if desired but again, eating bacon once in a while is not harmful. Bacon, eggs and whole grain toast make a great, easy dinner. Omelets, frittatas and quiches are also good options, and when using a meat substitute, are good for lacto-ovo vegetarians, as well.

Omelets can make an excellent choice for a low carb dinner.
Omelets can make an excellent choice for a low carb dinner.

Low carb dinners are easier to prepare when the cook remembers the lean meats, veggies and carb ratios. Vegans and vegetarians will need to pay attention to the carb counts in items like tofu and tempeh, but can work around those issues. Veggies and lean proteins, however, are the keys to successful low carb dinners.

Discussion Comments

subway11

SurfNturf- The South Beach diet is kind of like that. The first two weeks you are eating a very low carb diet.

After the second week you are slowly reintroduced to a series of limited carbs that also have a low carb content to them and are rich in fiber. Foods like sweet potatoes are allowed but in a limited fashion.

They also offer receipes that are fabulous. For example, to mirror the flavor of a cheesecake, the South Beach diet suggests using ricotta cheese combined with vanilla extract and a little bit of Splenda. The taste is great and it is easy to make.

surfNturf

Great article- I just want to add that eating a low carb dinner really makes a difference in weight loss.

Low carb dinners tend to keep you satisfied longer because the protein takes longer for the body to absorb.

The lack of sugar in the low carb dinner does not offer the highs and lows that a sugar laden dinner might offer. This not only keeps you full, but gives you a nice energy boost. I usually prefer eating a steak with salad or some sort of chicken with vegetables for dinner.

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    • Bacon has virtually no carbs, so it can be a good addition to a low carb meal.
      By: Kelpfish
      Bacon has virtually no carbs, so it can be a good addition to a low carb meal.
    • If using low carb pasta, lasagna can still be a low carb dinner.
      By: HandmadePictures
      If using low carb pasta, lasagna can still be a low carb dinner.
    • Eggplant parmesan is a great low carb dinner option.
      By: Giuseppe Porzani
      Eggplant parmesan is a great low carb dinner option.
    • Cauliflower is a low-carb food.
      By: ExQuisine
      Cauliflower is a low-carb food.
    • Omelets can make an excellent choice for a low carb dinner.
      By: Peredniankina
      Omelets can make an excellent choice for a low carb dinner.
    • A salad prepared with canned tuna is one low carb dinner option.
      By: Jaimie Duplass
      A salad prepared with canned tuna is one low carb dinner option.
    • Low carb dinners may include fish.
      By: diamant24
      Low carb dinners may include fish.
    • A salad of mixed greens, cheese, and strawberries is a low carb dinner entree.
      By: Photographee.eu
      A salad of mixed greens, cheese, and strawberries is a low carb dinner entree.
    • Squash is a low carb vegetable.
      By: zigzagmtart
      Squash is a low carb vegetable.
    • A platter of sashimi is a low carb dinner option.
      By: joesayhello
      A platter of sashimi is a low carb dinner option.
    • Broccoli is a good vegetable to consider for low-carb meals.
      By: Nitr
      Broccoli is a good vegetable to consider for low-carb meals.