No sugar, no grain diet

[Michellecooks79]

I'm on a no sugar no grain diet. No bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta allowed. Its sort of like the Atkins diet. Its really hard. I keep cheating on my diet. I really like sugar donuts from the vending machine. DoctorOz says we are addicted to sugar.

Anyways I'm looking for high protein, no carb recipes. I'm tired of Atkin's TV dinners.

-- Michelle.

PS. Ezekiel bread is OK. And I'm trying to prevent diabetes. I took the test 3 times and no diabetes.

 

[Sprout]

Have you checked any paleo cooking blogs? It sounds like they would be right up your alley. I have a few friends going paleo and the recipes they post always include grain substitutes. Spaghetti squash and spiraled zucchini or cucumber (cucumber only for cold dishes) are subbed for pastas often. I know from personal experience that thinly sliced eggplant can make a very tasty substitute for noodles in lasagna.

Also look at raw foods recipes. They don't typically contain grain since uncooked grains are pretty unpalatable. Some may call for raw honey or raw sugar, but I'm sure plenty of them don't.

I've never thought cutting out entire food groups like grains seemed like a good idea (or a sustainable one) but I wish you luck and health in your endeavors nonetheless.

Cutting out refined sugars I can see more, though I've never attempted it. From what I understand about cutting out added sugars, you really need to be obsessively strict in the beginning to allow yourself and your taste buds time to readjust. No added sugar in anything and absolutely no artificial sweeteners. Stay strong and good luck!

 

[Aunt Bea]

I try to follow a similar routine.

I'm not much help on recipes.

I usually go with meat and green vegetables.

I use a little grated cheese, soy sauce, lemon butter etc to jazz up the vegetables.

I eat Dreamfield carb controlled pasta once or twice a month.

For snacks I rely on nuts or peanut butter and once in awhile Breyer's carb controlled, fake ice cream.

Emerald flavored almonds help when I crave sweets or crunch.

It took me over a year to really adapt to this type of diet and admit that it has to be a permanent way of life, the yo-yoing is what kills you.

Good luck!

 

[Mad Cook]

I'm on a no sugar no grain diet. No bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta allowed. Its sort of like the Atkins diet. Its really hard. I keep cheating on my diet. I really like sugar donuts from the vending machine. DoctorOz says we are addicted to sugar.

Anyways I'm looking for high protein, no carb recipes. I'm tired of Atkin's TV dinners.

-- Michelle.

PS. Ezekiel bread is OK. And I'm trying to prevent diabetes. I took the test 3 times and no diabetes.

Have you been diagnosed with diabetes (by a qualified physician/specialist doctor at the hospital)?

Have you been put on this diet on your doctor's recommendation or are you "self-medicating" because you have read a (possibly inaccurately researched) article on-line?

If you are self-medicating and partaking of a very strict no carbohydrate diet should I assume you are eating no fruit and no vegetables? Why do you think this is healthy?

You are probably "cheating" on your diet because you are hungry and because you are short of essential elements of your diet due to your restricted intake of food. It's actually very unhealthy to completely eliminate whole food groups from your diet unless you have been properly diagnosed with a medical condition (and by that I do not mean something suggested by some quack on the internet).

If you are only trying to lose weight why not try a scheme such as "Slimming World" (there are others), which is based on consuming a balanced, healthy diet with everything in moderation? Very restricted diets don't work in the long run for the very simple reason that they are restricted

 

[LPBeier]

I have been cooking basically no sugar/wheat/gluten/lactose/casein/soy for my hubby, TB, for years now. This is because he has food intolerances, but I make sure he gets the nutrients, and variety, he needs. His doctor knows he eats this way and knows I am skilled in how to feed him (I am a retired special diets cook).

We buy a wonderful potato flax bread from a gluten free bakery, but other than that he stays away from grain products pretty much all the time. I make meals of meat (i.e. steak, chicken, salmon, pork) that is for the most part simply seasoned and grilled, baked or pan-seared.

For sides I make hearty salads like Greek, spinach or a kale mix we get at Costco; steamed veggies or stir fried veggies (mostly green or white); very little rice or potatoes if any.

The trick with the veggies is to make a lot to help fill you up. I will make a meal salad, like steak or chicken, and fill it with raw veggies.

Another thing is to allow yourself healthy snacks between meals, specially if you think you have diabetes (and I agree, get properly tested. If they say you don't have it, you don't).

 

[Michellecooks79]

I haven't been diagnosed with diabetes yet, but my specialist is trying to prevent it. I have some skin issues, eczema/psoriasis. Diabetes might be causing it. We are running tests to try to figure out why.

 

[GotGarlic]

I agree that eliminating complete food groups is not a sustainable strategy and I would add that Dr. Oz is not a dispassionate spreader of the truth He has a lot to gain financially from people watching his TV shows, buying his books, etc.

I think the best diet advice is this, from David L. Katz, MD, MPH director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center, where he is a practicing physician and researcher:

Katz and Yale colleague Stephanie Meller published their findings in the current issue of the journal in a paper titled, "Can We Say What Diet Is Best for Health?" In it, they compare the major diets of the day: Low carb, low fat, low glycemic, Mediterranean, mixed/balanced (DASH), Paleolithic, vegan, and elements of other diets. Despite the pervasiveness of these diets in culture and media, Katz and Meller write, "There have been no rigorous, long-term studies comparing contenders for best diet laurels using methodology that precludes bias and confounding. For many reasons, such studies are unlikely." They conclude that no diet is clearly best, but there are common elements across eating patterns that are proven to be beneficial to health. "A diet of minimally processed foods close to nature, predominantly plants, is decisively associated with health promotion and disease prevention."

Science Compared Every Diet, and the Winner Is Real Food - James Hamblin - The Atlantic

 

[Zereh]

What exactly will one be "missing" nutritionally if not eating grains and/or sugar?

I'm trying to think of one unique, important nutrient found in a grain that doesn't exist in another food source, but am unable to think of one. I will give whole grains props for having high fiber but they are far from the only source.

White sugar has absolutely no redeeming qualities and is 100% detrimental to us.

And when our cupboards, pantries, grocery stores, restaurants are full of non-healthy fake food choices chock full of grains that are so processed they have a mere semblance to the grain they brag about containing, of course it's easy to cheat.

It's never easy to make huge changes (and mostly in our though processes!) but hopefully you'll reach that point where you find that making good choices gets easier!

 

[bethzaring]

What exactly will one be "missing" nutritionally if not eating grains?

Carbohydrates

 

[CWS4322]

Michelle--I do not eat white grains (white rice, pasta, etc.), rarely eat bread. I also do not eat processed foods or white sugar. I eat a LOT of veggies, especially greens, proteins, limited dairy, nuts, fruits, etc. Tonight I'm having pakek paneer. I am making brown basmati rice to go with it. I find spcies, herbs, and lemon/lime/orange zest/juice add a nice finish to what I eat. I recently had my bloodwork done--perfect except I'm low on B12 (I HATE the taste of B12 vitamins--make me gag--anyway, working on that). I am on the high end of normal for iron--working on that as well. I have also shrunk 4 sizes since I started eating this way 2 years ago in June. Oh, I also make sure I load up at breakfast.

I eat lots of grains--purple barley, rice of the prairies (naked oats--love them), rye (the seed that looks like rice), brown rice, wild rice, black rice, cargo rice, I just don't eat white rice. You should not cut out grains completely--there is a reason that there are food groups and why we need to eat from each of them.

BTW, it was a Dr. Oz segment that got me to try eating my big meal for breakfast. I'm hooked on breakfast...

 

[cave76]

Have you been diagnosed with diabetes (by a qualified physician/specialist doctor at the hospital)?

Have you been put on this diet on your doctor's recommendation or are you "self-medicating" because you have read a (possibly inaccurately researched) article on-line?

If you are self-medicating and partaking of a very strict no carbohydrate diet should I assume you are eating no fruit and no vegetables? Why do you think this is healthy?

You are probably "cheating" on your diet because you are hungry and because you are short of essential elements of your diet due to your restricted intake of food. It's actually very unhealthy to completely eliminate whole food groups from your diet unless you have been properly diagnosed with a medical condition (and by that I do not mean something suggested by some quack on the internet).

If you are only trying to lose weight why not try a scheme such as "Slimming World" (there are others), which is based on consuming a balanced, healthy diet with everything in moderation? Very restricted diets don't work in the long run for the very simple reason that they are restricted

I second what MadCook has said.

About diabetes----- Unless you're genetically liable for it the best way to try and prevent diabetes is to control your weight, exercise moderately, eat a healthy, well-rounded diet, don't smoke and abstain from alcohol.

Cutting out grains does NOT make for a healthy diet. Cutting out any of the food groups does not make for a healthy diet.

If you want to believe in something Dr. Oz says:

"A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine determined that more than 90 percent of type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented by lifestyle changes. The disease is often triggered by poor diet and inactivity"

How to Prevent Diabetes - Dr. Oz's Diabetes Prevention Plan

Of course then he goes into how to use HIS plan to achieve that. But here, at DC, you'll get it free!

If you're not familiar with the basic food groups (ones people should eat almost daily) read this:

Nutrition for Everyone: Basics: Food Groups | DNPAO | CDC

You can start eating normally, feel better, maybe lose some weight if you need to and stay healthy. And a few 'cheats' with a doughnut isn't going to do you any harm at all. You may not even want to 'cheat' if you're feeling full.

Good luck.

 

[Zereh]

Carbohydrates

Carbs are not unique to grains.

 

[Mad Cook]

BTW, it was a Dr. Oz segment that got me to try eating my big meal for breakfast. I'm hooked on breakfast...

It's like the old saying "Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper"

 

[Roll_Bones]

I'm on a no sugar no grain diet. No bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta allowed. Its sort of like the Atkins diet. Its really hard. I keep cheating on my diet. I really like sugar donuts from the vending machine. DoctorOz says we are addicted to sugar.
Anyways I'm looking for high protein, no carb recipes. I'm tired of Atkin's TV dinners.-- Michelle.

PS. Ezekiel bread is OK. And I'm trying to prevent diabetes. I took the test 3 times and no diabetes.

This is how I try and eat, with no diabetes present.
This is how I lose weight fast.
This is how I feel better.
I try to cut carbs at every meal, every day as much as possible.

I have never tried an Atkins meal, even though his theory is sound and I follow his advice. In fact, it is my opinion that the Atkins diet is the very best way to lose weight and to lose weight quickly.

One of my favorite low carb dinners is veggie omelets and crispy bacon.
The veggies have carbs, but they are very good for you. So, this meal is IMO a low carb, but healthy meal.
Skip the toast and you have a meal you can make yourself.

 

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

Any diet that deprives you of an entire food group is destined to fail. If you want to lose weight safely, write down everything you eat for an entire week, and I do mean everything; meals, snacks, candy, chewing gum, chewing on a pencil, whatever. Include the quantity, be it by volume or by weight. Then sit down and calculate the calories of everything you ate every day. That information is easily found on the internet.

Next, create a meal plan based on what you are already eating that provides between 1200 and 1600 calories a day. Each meal should include 4 ounces of protein, 1 cup of vegetables, and 1/2 cup of carbohydrates (for your edification, corn and peas are carbohydrates, so 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes and 1 cup of whole kernel corn are three carbohydrate sides, not one carb side and one vegetable side). You can have as much salad as you want, but limit the vinaigrette or dressing to 2 Tbs.

Next, create an exercise plan, and include both aerobic (at least 30 minutes of cardio every day) and anaerobic (resistance weight training every other day) exercises. I guarantee you will lose 1 to 2 lbs every week until you reach your target weight. Once you achieve your target weight, it's time to determine the maximum number of calories you should consume to maintain that weight. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change.

 

[GotGarlic]

Any diet that deprives you of an entire food group is destined to fail. If you want to lose weight safely, write down everything you eat for an entire week, and I do mean everything; meals, snacks, candy, chewing gum, chewing on a pencil, whatever. Include the quantity, be it by volume or by weight. Then sit down and calculate the calories of everything you ate every day. That information is easily found on the internet.

Excellent suggestion. I did this for a while; I used FitDay, which has hundreds of foods already entered. That makes it really easy to list the foods you've eaten and see the calories, protein, carbs, and other nutrients.

FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal