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I need a low carb recipe book with simple meals. Any suggestions?

Alisonjane10

Well-Known Member
Hi folks,

Can anyone recommend a good recipe/meal plan book for simple low carb, low sugar, LCHF eating. It has to be a book & not an app or kindle book. The meals need to be quick & easy to make using easy to obtain ingredients. The book will be used by my parents who are in their mid 80's, so can't be complicated. All suggestions gratefully received.

Ali. X :)
 
I think part of the issue you have there is it would be a really, really difficult book to put together, given the definition I have seen suggests a very generous carb allowance at the upper end of low carb. One mans low carb is another's carb-fest.

Similarly, for some, say on 30gr a day, a meal containing 20gr might seem highish, but doable, but for someone else, they might prefer an even spread of carb throughout the day, or, as many people are most insulin resistant first thing, they may feel better stepping up the carbs through the day.

I'm assuming your folks want to try this way of eating, or are you preparing them for when you go there?

Either way, in your shoes, I might be inclined to accumulate a portfolio of recipes myself, bearing in mind what they enjoy eating, and put them into a ring binder, or print out booklet style. The resource can be readily updated as your knowledge increases, and you discover new foods and experiences. Obvious starters might include cottage pie, with celeriac or swede mash, or cauliflower cheese, or crustless quiches.

As you probably know, there are loads of recipes on this site already. When my OH and I started down this route, we just kept eating (mainly!!) the same meals we used to, but swapped out the major root veg and other heavy carbs where we could. Obviously that changes some meals a bit, but needs must, and it's astonishing how I can honestly say I'm not bothered if a curry has rice riding shotgun with it, or not. Having curry alone (maybe with side dishes), is an excellent excuse for the glutton in me to eat more curry. There's more room on both my plate and in my belly!!
 
I think part of the issue you have there is it would be a really, really difficult book to put together, given the definition I have seen suggests a very generous carb allowance at the upper end of low carb. One mans low carb is another's carb-fest.

Similarly, for some, say on 30gr a day, a meal containing 20gr might seem highish, but doable, but for someone else, they might prefer an even spread of carb throughout the day, or, as many people are most insulin resistant first thing, they may feel better stepping up the carbs through the day.

I'm assuming your folks want to try this way of eating, or are you preparing them for when you go there?

Either way, in your shoes, I might be inclined to accumulate a portfolio of recipes myself, bearing in mind what they enjoy eating, and put them into a ring binder, or print out booklet style. The resource can be readily updated as your knowledge increases, and you discover new foods and experiences. Obvious starters might include cottage pie, with celeriac or swede mash, or cauliflower cheese, or crustless quiches.

As you probably know, there are loads of recipes on this site already. When my OH and I started down this route, we just kept eating (mainly!!) the same meals we used to, but swapped out the major root veg and other heavy carbs where we could. Obviously that changes some meals a bit, but needs must, and it's astonishing how I can honestly say I'm not bothered if a curry has rice riding shotgun with it, or not. Having curry alone (maybe with side dishes), is an excellent excuse for the glutton in me to eat more curry. There's more room on both my plate and in my belly!!


That's a GREAT idea. I think I'll type up & laminate some simple recipes from this site for them. Mum & dad are both prediabetic & want to reduce their carb intake. Cutting out the carb part of a meal, such as in cottage pie, & replacing with a vegetable topping sounds like a good way for them to proceed. Good call. Thanks very much. Ali. X
 
That's a GREAT idea. I think I'll type up & laminate some simple recipes from this site for them. Mum & dad are both prediabetic & want to reduce their carb intake. Cutting out the carb part of a meal, such as in cottage pie, & replacing with a vegetable topping sounds like a good way for them to proceed. Good call. Thanks very much. Ali. X

Sites like ditchthecarbs.com have masses of ideas, but for staples, like the cottage pie you seem to like the idea of, just Google, "low carb x, y or z". If you find something that fits the bill, all good and well. If not, move on to the next meal.

Why not start with a list of their staple meals and go from there? I would think pies might be trickiest to get around, for pastry, but on the up-side, they're less likely to want pizza.

If you have anything your sticking on, there's usually someone on here with ideas.
 
Oh. And I wouldn't laminate straight away. You will have the master file, and waiting will allow you to make any tweaks to the recipes your folks might prefer. Writing an amend on a printed sheet is easy; less so n laminated paper. Once settled on the ones they like, then probably it's worth laminating.
 
When I print out a recipe, I put it in a poly pocket - the type with holes punched down the side - then pop it in a ring binder. I can then still write amendments and the plastic pocket protects it from kitchen spills.

Good luck with your recipe compilation. Sounds like the best idea.
 
Hi AndBreathe & Avocado Sevenfold

Thank you both for the good advice. Stupid me didn't even consider using a poly pocket for the recipes. Think I'll laminate an index once I've compiled a varied list of easy, everyday meals that my auld Ma & Pa will easily manage. I'm gonna look for a nice A4 ring binder file that has food etc on it. Plus, I'm definitely going to make a recipe file for me too. A nice little project. Cheers.

Ali. X
 
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