Join us for the Fall 2016 Low Carb Challenge!
I can be VERY lazy in the kitchen. I just want to grab something to eat and get on with my day, without having to do a lot of prep or make a big mess. 😛
Yesterday’s low carb meals are a prime example of that, lol. Fortunately I had a couple of interesting things on hand that made for easy meals.
I was also kind of tired and blah yesterday, and busy with work, so it wasn’t total laziness. 🙂
Here’s what I ate yesterday, along with my MyFitnessPal food diary, to give you some meal ideas and see how I track things.
Thursday’s Low Carb Meals
My day started off realizing I didn’t have enough pecans left to make my favorite breakfast. 😯 I decided to add in some Coconut Chips, but I had to try them first to see how they tasted.
I found these Made In Nature Coconut Chips at my local Wal-Mart in the produce section. They also have them on the VitaCost website if you shop there.
They are 5 and 6 net carbs for 1/2 cup serving. Both flavors are really good!
I added the Italian Espresso flavor to my usual “Low Carb Cereal”, but just 1/2 a serving (1/4 cup) because I still had a serving of pecans left.
The coconut chips added a VERY nice tasty crunch!! 🙂
My bowl had 1/4 cup crushed pecans, 1/4 cup Daisy brand cottage cheese, 4 small diced strawberries & 1/4 cup coconut chips = 6.5 net carbs and 80% healthy fats.
At lunch, blah – what to make?! 😛 I had 1.38 ounces of the Chef’s Cut Buffalo Chicken Jerky left, and I LOVE that dipped in ranch! I got that in my July Keto Krate by the way. You can see what’s in the August box. 🙂
That wasn’t enough for lunch, so I scrambled up 3 eggs to go with it.
Easy and delicious! 🙂
Dinner is where it got sketchy. 😛
I was tired, and I was already at 20 net carbs for the day. I didn’t feel like going out for a zero carb lettuce burger… Hmm. This is what I grabbed:
I still don’t know how I feel about pork skins, lol. I’ve eaten them maybe 3 times in my life before last night. I decided to toast them with butter & cinnamon and a dash of Torani Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup. They remind me of “cinnamon twists” this way – sorta salty & sweet though.
I put them on foil and rolled up the edges a bit, added the whole 3.25 ounce bag of pork skins and sprinkled cinnamon over them all.
Then I melted 4 TBSP of real butter and stirred in a TBSP of the sugar free vanilla to the melted butter, and poured that over the pork skins. I baked them at 350 and just shook them around a bit until hot & coated.
I took the whole plate (foil bowl and all, lol) to bed and watched a movie. 🙂
Truth: I felt sick after that. 😛 LOL…
I also had HALF CUP (yay! lol) of the Halo Top Creamery Mint Chip low carb ice cream yesterday – sometime in the middle of the afternoon. That makes such a nice treat, IF you can limit yourself to the half cup serving. 😉
Here’s My MyFitnessPal Diary for Thursday:
Macronutrients: Simple Explanation Of Low Carb Macros
How To Get A Net Carbs Column in MyFitnessPal
Calories: 1797
Net Carbs: 21
Total Carbs: 32
Protein: 108 Grams
71% Fat, 25% Protein
Water: 40 ounces
I was relieved to stay around 20 net carbs and meet my macros yesterday. The coconut chips are higher in carbs, so like the ice cream you REALLY have to watch your servings. It’s nice to mix things up a little though.
And blech – I’m over the pork skins again for awhile, lol. They were great of course, I like the “sweet ‘n salty” like that, but I can only eat those once in a blue moon. And not THAT many! haha
I went to the store this morning and got sausage, pork chops, spinach, more eggs, PECANS 🙂 and a few other staples… so I’m good for healthy low carb meals through the weekend.
How are things going for you?
It’s day 5 today. How are you doing so far? 🙂
Leave a comment and let’s talk!
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
Lol the pork skins intrigued me. I’ve eaten them every way but this way. I’ve got to try it.
They’re good. π They remind me of the cinnamon twists from Taco Bell or something – but I don’t make mine THAT sweet. It’s about the only way I can stomach them, lol.
I love making small plates of pork rind “nachos” — rinds topped with salsa and shredded nacho cheese, then microwaved for 30 seconds. I sometimes add cooked chicken or ground beef too. I top with sour cream and occasionally avacado, and I have to eat it with a fork, but it’s SOOOOO GOOD!!!!
I’ve done great so far. Almost 7 lbs down this week. But I wake up starved and fatigued through the day. Will this pass? Also I use the same creamer as you but mine counts 2 carbs/serving. Am I doing something wrong??
Hi Casey! Look at your label – is it liquid or powdered, by the way? The liquid is higher in carbs. I use the powdered hazelnut (the other flavors are higher too). I did find some labels said 2 instead of 1, so I’m careful which bottles I buy…
Congrats on the 7 pounds lost! It sounds like you may have “keto flu”. Read this: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/4689/ketosis-symptoms-and-low-carb-flu/
The only other cause may be if you are not getting at least 70% fat. How are you tracking, and do you get 70% of your calories in fat every day? If not, that will definitely affect your energy levels. Here’s why: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/4606/lchf-diet-explained/
That also be why you’re feeling hungry. But that will definitely pass if you get your numbers right, because a keto diet is a natural appetite suppressant. π
Thank you so much for replying and sharing all the info!! I greatly appreciate it!!
You’re welcome! π
I switched to the hazelnut powdered creamer cause it has the least carbs of all of them. I used to use french vanilla or caremal creamer but now i prefer the hazelnut creamer. I do use the irish cream sf syrup too because irish cream is not available as a sf coffee creamer
. I might try the coconut cream with the torani syrups. But honestly i think the powdered creamer is gonna win. π
I cannot give up my one guilty pleasure and hey if i am still losing weight why change. π
I found adding potassium and magnesium to my diet helps tremendously with ‘low carb flu’. I use the Emergen-C Electro Mix – add to 1 liter of water, daily along with a magnesium supplement. And of course keeping your fat% up to 70-75% helps as Lynn says.
The cheapest, easiest solution is chicken broth. I like Campbell’s canned condensed broth (like you cook with) mixed with about 3/4 water (instead of 1:1). Drink it hot out of a mug. Tastes great!
It replaces the sodium & electrolytes lost during the diuretic process of going into ketosis. Which is what causes headaches, leg cramps, and other keto flu symptoms.
hmmmmm, I’m kinda leery of pork skins myself and I would have NEVER thought to make them like that…. (I have crushed them to make a low carb crispy coating and that’s about it)…Way to Think Outside The Box with this!!! maybe i’ll give this a go…if I get brave. lol.
Yeah – but don’t eat a whole 3.25 ounce bag. π haha UGH
That sounds like a whole lot of pork skins to eat at one sitting. I get queasy after eating 1/4 of a bag. Were your macros or fat percentages higher because of that and the butter?
i am tired of pork skins too. My tummy don’t like them. If i eat cheese with them it helps
i wonder if the coconut chips have sugar in the ingredients? I saw a different brand in the store and it had sugar in the ingredients
Those sound yummy.
I had a pretty good day yesterday but i had to have my lc cereal last night after dinner
i love it!
Yeah, I’m sure that did help my macros. The butter especially. Queasy would be a good word for how I felt after that. π
I think the coconut chips DO have sugar in the ingredients. I’m not sure. You can go to the website and see the nutrition facts & ingredients. I think they are posted there. They are too high carb for me to eat on a regular basis, or very many of.
I feel the same way about pork rinds……..I actually threw out the last bag I had because I couldn’t face them. Blech!
I am at the lowest weight I have been since about 18 years ago! I have actually been eating more fat & protein, and even a few more carbs, and my body seems to be happier. I was doing a lot of IF…not eating for 16+ hours and was getting nowhere fast. As soon as I added breakfast back to my plan, the scale started to nudge down again.
Have a great weekend Lynn!
Thank you – I’m really looking forward to a slower pace this weekend. π Congrats on your lowest weight in 18 years. That’s awesome!! I’m at the same place and it feels GREAT.
I love to hear that you are testing and finding what works best for YOU. I have never done Intermittent Fasting (intentionally). I’ve missed a meal here and there, but I don’t like the idea of “fasting”. It feels too much like dieting to me. π
I noticed that the pork skins get stale very quickly. I threw out a couple of bags recently. I am done with those for now. I want to try the ” just cheese” crisps instead. I think i would like those much better
i do not love pork anyway except bacon or pork spare ribs. π
I eat turkey bacon more but i only like it if it is crispy. π
Thank you Lynn, its great to see all this info for us newbs π I’m with you on the pork rinds, they are sketchy in my book. I bought some for the first time the other day because I keep seeing them in my YouFood feed by LCHF peeps. Here’s what I did with mine and I loved it! Instead of panko crumbs on my roasted cauliflower, I put several “chips” in a baggie and crunched them up real fine, added this to 2 tbls. melted Kerrygold butter and 1 Tbls parmesan cheese (right out of the shaker). Yummy! My family didn’t even notice the difference. Also, I dipped a few in guacamole instead of tortilla chips earlier in the week. I’m still on the fence-they smell nasty if your nose is close to the bag when you open, BUT great to have these options low/no carb. Thanks again for all of your info you share! Happy Friday =)
That does sound good! I’ll have to remember that one. I’ve used them crushed fine in my veggie fritters and tuna fritters – those were both great too. Those are here: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/8766/low-carb-fritters-recipe/
Crushed pork rinds work really well in meatloaf too:)
With the massive amount of pecans you eat, I’m always surprised that you don’t buy them in bulk! Costco sells a 2-pound bag of huge pecan halves. I turn my oven to 350, then put a pound of pecans in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Put in oven while it’s still heating up, and bake about 10 minutes (watch for them to just darken a bit). I keep them in a jar and just rough chop what I need. Toasting them creates a nuttier flavor and incredible crunch. Try it and you just may fall in love with them. I like a few in salads.
Yum, I may have to try toasting them. π I love pecans in salads as well, especially caesar salad. Something about that combo is just perfect!
Thanks for reminding me too. I was researching bulk pricing awhile back and didn’t finish so I need to find my notes and finish that up… I’d LOVE to find a great low cost source for pecans and other nuts!
I love roasted pecans, walnuts or almonds but i do believe they lose some of their nutritional value when roasted. I loved the smell of roasted walnuts in my mom’s home made chicolate chip cookies long ago…We never cooked with pecans much but my father’s sister who was from Atlanta would send us her homemade fudge every Christmas and it had pecans in it. She also made a super sweet date candy that always had a pecan in the middle. Pecans are popular in the Southern States but you got me hooked on them now. They are pricey but all nuts are these days
my grandson ate all my almonds so when he went to his other grandma’s house he asked her to buy almonds for him. He told me she said ” Almonds are for rich people” i had to laugh. I am not rich but since i have been eating low carb i actually save money on my food costs because i eat so much less now. I save also because i do not get fast food or junk food anymore. π
LOL that IS funny – because I am saving a lot of money too. It’s shocking how much I could spend on food before… and how much I could EAT compared to now. π
I guess I’m the odd man out :), I love pork rinds, so do my doggies (Boxers), I take one and give them one, I eat one and give them one LOL. I don’t eat anywhere near the whole bag though, just maybe a handful for a snack.
I’m down 1,8 lbs since Monday.
Lynn I don’t know if you mind if we post some recipes here that we find are good. I’m always looking for bread or buns and this is one of the best I’m found so far. I just made half of this recipe and made a BLT and it was yummy. I also added the ingredients in MFP and if I did it right it comes to 3g carbs per bun, so for two is 6g carbs. I’m not sure why the maple syrup, if that is deleted or substituted it would be lower.
http://www.edify.net.au/low_carb_recipes_view.php?id=34&type=Lunch&name=Sandwich%20Rounds
Lynn my apologies if you don’t want us posting links here, please delete it.
LOL my great dane loves them too. π Congrats on your weight loss this week!! And no, I don’t mind recipe shares at all – thank you for the link & details. π
Funny my dog will not touch pork rinds. I put them on the floor or in his dish and he totally snubs them. Lol.
I like pork rinds if BBQ flavor but if i eat more than a few my tummy aches
π
Funny, I’m sitting here having a few pork rinds to tide me over until time to grill dinner! I always have them around even before LCHF! Maybe it’s a southern thing! I’m down 3 lbs from Monday.
Congrats, Sarah – 3 pounds already this week is great results! π I’m from Tennessee so I’ve seen pork rinds / skins around all my life – along with potted meat and sardines on saltines, lol.
So far I’m doing ok, but Tonight I had sweet cravings out the wazoo. I drank bone broth, ate a piece of sausage, ate frozen mixed berries with a squirt of whipped cream. Finally rummaged around in the pantry, and found sugar free jello, made it and drank a cup. That finally did the trick. Well I guess on top of the other stuff I ate. Total carbs for the day:21. I’m finally realizing that I need to write down every single thing I put into my mouth.i keep my tablet handy with mfp loaded. I sometimes eat mindlessly. Oh, for dinner I had tuna salad, no bread. Filling, 1 carb. The sweet pork rinds sound interesting, might help with sweet cravings, but I also need to find a lower carb creamer for my coffee. I don’t like artifical sweetners, but I might need to use them. My coffee is 5 carbs each and I drink two cups. That’s half my carbs for the day!
I struggle with my coffee/carbs too, Clarise. I really LOVE the sugar free hazelnut powdered creamer (Coffee-Mate). It’s 1 carb per TBSP and VERY sweet & creamy. π It’s much better than splenda, etc. That would only be 2 carbs instead of 10 for your two cups.
Thanks Lynn. I am going to the store today. I was trying to keep things natural with coconut creamer, it has real sugar, but for now, I need to lose weight. Your tips are soooo helpful. Also, I think I eat too much, I am starting to measure, a good thing for me. I have noticed that your quantities are very small, no wonder you lose weight. Thanks thanks, thanks
You’ll fall in love with that creamer. π I bought some coconut cream too, trying to switch mine – but I haven’t been successful yet, lol.
Natural is always best, but I do have my one guilty pleasure: my coffee! I’m not a food snob, or judgmental. In the beginning it’s all about figuring out what works for you, and getting into that 20 net carbs range. π
You’ll find that once you get around 20 net carbs a day consistently for at least a week… you have hardly any appetite or cravings. Your portions will naturally become smaller too! I used to eat A LOT π haha. It is a HUGE contrast to now.
Measuring & weighing really helps though, especially with your tracking. I eat as much as I want to eat, I just track it all closely.