Most people think that low carb diets and low carb meals as ways to lose weight are new inventions of the last ten years or so. This is not the case. In fact, the Stillman Diet was first published in 1967 and recommended a diet low in digestible carbohydrates and high in protein and fiber. This is still the basic diet followed today by people who are looking to lose weight by eating low carb meals and following the diet based on low levels of digestible carbohydrates.
In fact this may have been the diet of our ancestors. Most anthropologist believe that before the advent of farming, about 10,000 years ago, man relied mostly on a diet high in protein, from meat and fish, and high in fiber. Most of the high carb foods we find today were not very edible at this time. It was only with the advent of farming that tribes were able to develop these grains, rice, and maize to a point that they could be used as a base for a diet. It may be that part of our problem with obesity and diabetes today is that we are trying to eat a diet that our bodies are not designed to consume.
It is especially bad now that the major food manufacturers have learned how to increase the caloric value of foods to give the body an even higher sugar spike. If you are attempting to find zero carb foods you might as well not even look in most fast food restaurants. Almost all of the meals available have many times the recommended grams of carbohydrates per serving. You won’t find a no carb food list there.
By contrast, cooking and eating healthy, nutritious foods generally gives a lower carbohydrate count. Good nutrition is really the name of the game when you are trying to lose weight what ever type of diet you use. It just so happens that the more nutritious choice of a food group is usually also the one with the least grams of digestible carbs. Take rice for example. White rice has had most of the nutritional elements removed and what is left is almost pure carbohydrates. Brown rice, on the other hand, still has the outer cover intact. This is where the vitamins, minerals and fiber is stored. Thus by eating the same amount of brown rice as white you actually get less digestible carbs with the brown. I guess brown rice isn’t just for hippies anymore.
Low Carb Meals For Breakfast
One time that always bothers me when I am looking for a low carb meal is breakfast. Most of the breakfast cereals are absolutely terrible when it comes to amount of refined sugar and carbohydrates that are involved. Some of the healthiest breakfast cereals do a much better job of balancing sugar and carbohydrates with fiber and nutrients. Just a hint, if it is marketed to kids, don’t touch it with a 10 foot pole. Almost all children’s cereals are loaded with refined sugar.
The best rule of thumb when looking for meals low in carbohydrates is to load up on meats and non-starchy vegetables. On most diets it is very hard to reach your gram limit when eating meat without breading and green and root vegetables. Other than potatoes that is, you have to stay away from them. But you can eat all the carrots, celery, lettuce, radishes, or any other of these types of vegetables.
You also need to stay away from grains, rice, corn, and beans. These can and should be a part of a healthy maintenance diet but they are not allowed when on the standard 20-40 grams of carbohydrates weight loss diet. Stick with meats which includes chicken, beef, pork, turkey, and some fishes. Another great meat source is wild game. This is good because it is a zero carb food and it is usually very lean in fats and thus good for your cardiovascular system.
We can learn to control our weight if we get back to the type of diet our ancestors ate. Our bodies are not designed to work on Big Macs and Fries and this reality is showing in our levels of obesity in the US. Eat low carb meals and start to get your health back like you deserve.