THE LOW CARB DIABETIC

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THE LOW CARB DIABETIC

Promoting a low carb high fat lifestyle for the safe control of diabetes. Eat whole fresh food, more drugs are not the answer.


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mo1905
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    Low Carb Eating On A Budget - Is It Easy To Do?

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    Post by Jan1 Sat Jan 03 2015, 13:54

    With the expense of Christmas over .... well until some of the bills come in .... are you thinking of tightening up on your budget ? Food can be expensive, but with a bit of thought, bargain hunting and menu planning living the LCHF lifestyle doesn't need to be.

    I first saw this article on The Diabetes Diet Blog and Emma has certainly given some great tips, and well worth sharing with fellow LCHF bargain hunters.

    "Eating low-carb can be expensive as cheap ingredients such as rice, potatoes, bread, pasta and beans are often used in meals as the filler – think lasagne, chilli con carne and shepherd’s pie for instance. Meat and fish can be expensive, but there are ways to eat a low-carb diet without incurring huge grocery bills.

    1.Use the cheap cuts. Cheaper cuts of meat (such as those labelled “stewing” or “braising” cuts in the supermarket are much cheaper than quick cooking cuts, such as steaks or chops. If you own a slow cooker, you can make up fantastic stews with these cuts too.

    2.Eat chicken legs, not breasts. Again, chicken legs are much cheaper than breasts and much more versatile too as they aren’t as easy to overcook as the breast.

    3.Shopping later in the evening means you can often bag some meat bargains – supermarkets mark down the meat that is about to reach its sell-by date. You can either cook it that evening or put it in the freezer straight away.

    4.Buy eggs at the farmers’ market. In general, farmers’ markets tend to be really expensive (though the quality is superb), but I’ve always noticed that the eggs are cheaper than the supermarket – and much tastier. They are often free-range and organic too.

    5.Develop a taste for liver. Liver is one of the most nutrient-dense foods there is, so if you can develop a taste for it you’ll be consuming a product which is not only very good for you, but is also much cheaper than meat. My local supermarket stocks 227g cartons of chicken liver for 50p. Fry up sliced onions in butter for a delicious accompaniment.

    6.Bulk buy nuts, ground almonds and spices – they are cheaper bought this way. Nuts are a healthy snack, ground almonds can be used in low-carb baking and spices can add lots of flavour to your meals.

    7.Use tofu. Tofu is relatively cheap, when compared with meat. The secret is to marinate it before cooking to add in lots of flavour.

    While processed, high-carb foods tend to be less expensive than the fresh, natural foods you find on a low carb diet, you might view a slightly higher food budget as a long-term investment – one that will benefit your health and greatly reduce your chances of suffering health problems as you get older. "

    Link to Emma's article is here:  http://diabetesdietblog.com/2014/12/30/seven-tips-for-budget-low-carb-eating/


    Of course each of us have some foods we favour more than others, but it's always good to share and exchange ideas, recipes etc. One of our favourite meals for eating LCHF on a budget is a simple fish dish which can be found here: http://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/tonights-low-carb-very-economical-meal.html

    Have you any tips or questions about LCHF living on a budget - we'd love to hear them.  sunny

    Happy LCHF lifestyle to all.

    All the best Jan
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    Post by Sharon Sat Jan 03 2015, 15:02

    liver is full of nutrition but not all like it . I buy cheap eggs not always free range .
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    Post by mo1905 Sat Jan 03 2015, 21:03

    Liver & bacon, thick onion gravy !Mmmm !
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    Post by j Sun Jan 04 2015, 05:06

    4LT of olive oil is the cheapest good calories you can buy here, 4,000g fat, 35,400 calories
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    Post by sanguine Sun Jan 04 2015, 09:41

    3) shopping late for items about to reach their sell-by date is a favourite (or taking advantage of BOGOF type offers). 5) is a no-no, I cannot stand liver (or kidney for that matter). 6) not sure about bulk-buying nuts and spices, you have to be diligent about sealed storage or they will go off over time - depends how much you get through.
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    Post by RANDBURG Mon Jan 05 2015, 06:15

    Hi Jan1,
    QUOTE
    7.Use tofu. Tofu is relatively cheap, when compared with meat. The secret is to marinate it before cooking to add in lots of flavour.

    Always wanted to try it, can you give me a good recipe to try ?
    Also noticed the Local Chinese Market has Smoked Tofu, it looks a lot "Firmer" than the normal, Cream Cheese Looking Tofu they stock ?
    Thanks
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    Post by Jan1 Mon Jan 05 2015, 10:45

    RANDBURG wrote:Hi Jan1,
    QUOTE
    7.Use tofu. Tofu is relatively cheap, when compared with meat. The secret is to marinate it before cooking to add in lots of flavour.

    Always wanted to try it, can you give me a good recipe to try ?
    Also noticed the Local Chinese Market has Smoked Tofu, it looks a lot "Firmer" than the normal, Cream Cheese Looking Tofu they stock ?
    Thanks

    Hi Randburg .....I'm not around for the next few hours - but will reply fully later with recipe idea etc.

    All the best Jan
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    Post by Jan1 Mon Jan 05 2015, 18:46

    As promised here is a recipe using Tofu which I understand is quite palatable, courtesy of Nigel Slater - here is his marinated tofu stir-fry recipe. "It's fresh, flavoursome, healthy and quick – a vegetarian midweek meal that ticks all the boxes

    Cut 350g of firm tofu into large bite-sized cubes and put them in a mixing bowl. Finely chop two plump cloves of garlic, stir them into six tablespoons of groundnut or vegetable oil. Halve, seed and finely chop a medium-hot red chilli, then add the cubes of tofu and set aside for a good 30 minutes

    Slice or roughly chop 100g of chestnut mushrooms, pour the marinade into a hot wok, leaving the tofu behind, and let it sizzle, then fry the mushrooms until golden and tender. Add 150g of whole sugar-snap peas, then 200g of chopped pak choy. Stir and fry for a few minutes until the greens have wilted a little and the peas are crisp, then add a splash of light soy sauce, cook briefly, then tip on to two warm plates or bowls.

    Wipe the wok with kitchen paper, return it to the heat, then when it is hot add the cubes of tofu and any oil clinging to them. Fry for a couple of minutes until golden on each side. Tip on top of the stir-fried vegetables and serve immediately. Serves 2."

    Good Tip " Tofu has a habit of breaking up in a stir-fry, so cook the cubes separately at the end. It only takes a minute or two at most. As with all stir-frying, keep the pan as hot as possible and move the ingredients round the pan quickly, so they do not burn. Wipe the wok rather than washing it. That way it will develop a good non-stick patina."

    Why not tweak the flavour by " adding a few shakes of sesame oil at the end. You could also include a tablespoon of fish sauce if you like a more piquant result, or a shake of chilli sauce"

    I have to admit I've never been a Tofu fan, although I know many people do like it and use it. Be interested to hear what you think of this recipe.

    With regard to smoked Tofu ..... this must have more taste than ordinary and it's taste that is so important for many / most of us.

    It is possible to live the LCHF lifestyle on a budget. However, if you are not sure of your blood sugar reaction to any ingredients test / use your meter is best  sunny

    Link to original recipe is here http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/28/marinated-tofu-stir-fry-recipe-nigel-slater

    All the best Jan
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    Post by RANDBURG Tue Jan 06 2015, 05:27

    Thank you, its on my to try list.
    By the  way I got to the Meatballs with Mushrooms and tomato Sauce recipe on Sunday.
    Not bad, could not really taste the mushrooms in the meatballs, but they were nice and moist.
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    Post by Jan1 Tue Jan 06 2015, 10:50

    Mushrooms are always in the house and the different varieties differ in flavour and price. The white mushrooms are a mild flavour and here in the UK are often the cheapest. The chestnut (brown) mushrooms are more flavoursome and offer a nice change - perhaps they might be a good one to try in the mushrooms and meatballs recipe?

    (  @Randburg many thanks for the follow up  )

    Portobello Mushrooms are a great vegetable filled with cheese and a little pate - cooked for about 20 minutes in the oven, as an accompaniment or light lunch. Has anyone got any mushroom recipe ideas to share ?

    All the best Jan

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