Carb free dinners

[StephEllis]

Hi, I'm type 1 and starting a fitness programme. The food regime will be carbs breakfast ,& lunch, no carbs to be in my evening meal. Has anyone done this with type 1? And can anyone recommend any recipes, cookbooks, groups on Facebook or Instagram for carb free meals. Thank you x

 

[Lucyr]

Hi, I'm type 1 and starting a fitness programme. The food regime will be carbs breakfast ,& lunch, no carbs to be in my evening meal.

What are you hoping to achieve with this plan?

 

[StephEllis]

I'm doing a training programme with a PT, aim is to lose some body fat, gain muscle.

 

[Lucyr]

I'm doing a training programme with a PT, aim is to lose some body fat, gain muscle.

How does no carbs in evening meal achieve that? You won’t even be able to have veg or eggs.

 

[StephEllis]

I have a list of some veg I can have, I can have fats, protein (eggs) and veg in the evening. No carb or low carb forces the body to burn stored fat for energy instead of relying on carbohydrates.

 

[Lucyr]

I have a list of some veg I can have, I can have fats, protein (eggs) and veg in the evening. No carb or low carb forces the body to burn stored fat for energy instead of relying on carbohydrates.

Not for one low carb meal a day it doesn’t. You did specifically say “no carbs in evening meal” and veg/eggs do contain carbs so sounds like you may be getting mixed up on what’s been advised there.

 

[rebrascora]

So you mean low carb rather than "no carb"
Sorry to be pedantic but it is important that people understand that there are carbs in almost everything to some extent. No carb is basically meat or fish and nothing else. Even lettuce contains some carbs, just a very small amount. So any veg will contain some carbs.
It sounds like what you are proposing is a meal without any carb rich foods like bread or pasta or rice or potatoes, which is the way I eat most of the time. Does your PT know anything about diabetes? Do you know how to manage low carb meals with your insulin?

I follow a low carb way of eating but it definitely isn't "no carb". I have to inject insulin for the few carbs I get from tomatoes and onion and other veg and pulses then 2 hours later I usually have to inject more insulin to cover the release of glucose from the protein in the meal, which is a much slower release than carbs and usually starts releasing 2 hours post meal and continues for about 4-6 hours after that. If you have less than about 30g carbs in a meal, your body will convert the protein to glucose, so this only happens with low carb meals. Of course, this is not a problem for people whose pancreas produces insulin because their body regulates the slower release of glucose from the protein, but for those of us who are insulin dependent, we have to deal with it ourselves by injecting insulin to cover it, but it isn't straight forward.

I learned by trial and error and during my honeymoon period my own insulin production was able to cope with it but gradually as my own insulin production ended I found that I had to regularly correct 2 hours after each low carb meal or I would be in double figures a lot of the time and not just spikes that came down but my levels would just drift upwards and then stay there for hours until eventually I jabbed a correction. The way I deal with it now is that I have my high alarm set at 8.2 and when that goes off, I know that I need 2 units of insulin. And if I haven't come down an hour later I need to inject more ie stack insulin. This is what works for me and I am certainly not recommending anyone else does it, but some low carb meals will need 3 injections to cover it, 1 before the meal to cover the few carbs, Another about 2 hours after when my high alarm goes off and possibly another an hour after that if my levels have not come down below 8.

 

[Lucyr]

Has the PT asked you whether youre on mixed insulin which needs a set dose of carbs or whether you’re on basal bolus with fixed doses or checked that you know how to adjust your insulin to manage this low carb meal ie how to bolus for the protein etc? If they haven’t at minimum asked those questions or just said they don’t know much about T1 and insisted that you speak to a DSN / diabetes dietitian for advice on managing blood sugars with dieting then they don’t know what they’re doing and just giving everyone the same advice and so id be very cautious of following any diet plan they advise.

 

[StephEllis]

Hi Barbara, yes sorry I didn't word my first post quite right. I do mean an evening meal with no carbs such as pasta, rice, potatoes, bread etc as you say. I understand there is a certain amount of carb in most foods including veg, so yes as you say probably low carb as opposed to no carbs.

My PT has a good knowledge of diabetes. It will be trial & error for me too. Thank you for the reply, interesting to know how others manage this with taking insulin x

 

[StephEllis]

Has the PT asked you whether youre on mixed insulin which needs a set dose of carbs or whether you’re on basal bolus with fixed doses or checked that you know how to adjust your insulin to manage this low carb meal ie how to bolus for the protein etc? If they haven’t at minimum asked those questions or just said they don’t know much about T1 and insisted that you speak to a DSN / diabetes dietitian for advice on managing blood sugars with dieting then they don’t know what they’re doing and just giving everyone the same advice and so id be very cautious of following any diet plan they advise.

He hasn't asked me about insulin doses but yes it maybe an idea for me to speak to DSN. thanks for the advice x

 

[Lucyr]

He hasn't asked me about insulin doses but yes it maybe an idea for me to speak to DSN. thanks for the advice x

Major red flag there to avoid this PT for diet advice - you say he has a good understanding of diabetes but he absolutely doesn’t if he’s advising you have low carb meals without checking you can safely adjust your insulin to account for that.

 

[saffron15]

I like fish. Healthy quick to cook with a good salad or veg. I like sea trout. I prefer it to salmon. Both can easily be cooked by poaching it in water add a bay leaf or peppercorns, if wished. I would have with tenderstem broccoli, I also like Swiss chard but I live in a rural area where it is easy to buy. My fishman sells samphire but it's a bit salty. Hake, Trout, cod and sea bass are good too.
I have previously posted a nigella recipe I like. I don't bother with a dressing and sometimes use hot smoked salmon which makes it an assembly job. I use whatever salad leaves i have but watercress is lovely. I like the addition of toasted pumpkin seeds. I toast some and keep in a jar. She says spoon the avocado on to the plate. Avocado has some carb but is low carb. You could cook the salmon leave half in the fridge and have it 2 nights running. M and S sell ready poached salmon if time is tight.

Salmon, avocado and watercress salad recipe

This salmon, avocado and watercress salad is a regular lunch or supper at Nigella's, and we bet that it will soon be on the regular at your home too.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[helli]

Excuse my ignorance - I am not a "full time low carber" - but I am surprised when people request meals that do not include the "classic carbs" (rice, bread, pasta, etc.). I often, unintentionally, eat meals missing these ingredients because they are the "boring bits. I fill up on the interesting stuff like lots of colourful and textured veg. For example, if I have a curry, I have more of the sauce, if I have stir fry, I have a pile of veg with some egg or prawns (I don't eat meat), omelette and salad is another common meal for me, I enjoy zoodles (spiralled courgettes) with my ragu, ...

Harder to do with pizza (unless it is not "real" pizza) or cake.

 

[rebrascora]

2 or 3 egg omelette with whatever filling you like and salad with a big dollop of coleslaw.
Steak, fried mushrooms and a big salad with coleslaw. If you want to push the boat out, celeriac makes a low carb alternative to potato chips.
Chilli with coleslaw and salad.
Gammon or high meat content sausages with cauliflower cheese, broccoli and cabbage and maybe a bit of piccalilli to give it some zing..
Curry with mild curried vegetables (veg bhaji but ask for no potatoes if it is from a takeaway). I serve my curry on a bed of cooked shredded cabbage or broccoli or courgettes and I often have coleslaw with it if it is too spicy. Or you can use konjac rice. Bare Naked is a brand name that you will most often find in the major supermarkets. You can also get konjac noodles which you can use with bolognaise instead of spaghetti. The key thing with konjac products is to rinse them really thoroughly to remove the preservative liquid.
I really like ratatouille and I make a big roasting pan of it in the oven with mozzarella or Halloumi on top and you can have that with whatever protein you like or just eat it on it's own.
Satay chicken with veg or salad. .

 

[PhoebeC]

Carbs are my favorite food group. People who don't potatoes or pasta scare me

Also low carb for me is easier breakfast and lunch, but that's just me.

Salads, veggies, eggs etc.

Charcuterie type foods, cold meats, veggie sticks, cheese, nuts. But again for weight loss you might not want cheese.

Watch out with sausages as @rebrascora said high meat or low fat (chicken) versions have less added carbs.