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Published:
July 14, 2005

Healthy Carb Cookbook For Dummies

Overview

According to USA Weekend, over a quarter of the adults in the U.S. have tried a low-carb diet. Many people have enjoyed lasting success. Others have felt mystified or deprived and given up!

Whether you’re a first-timer or a “try, try-againer”, this book helps you get with the low-carb program and stick with it! Building on the success of Low-Carb Dieting For Dummies, it gives you loads of nutritional information plus more than 100 sumptuous low-carb recipes like Crunchy Brunch Oatmeal Pecan Waffles, Caribbean Chicken, Chile Spiced Broccoli, and Lemon Torte with Raspberries. Low-Carb Cookbook For Dummies includes:

  • A complete nutritional analysis for each recipe so you can’t go wrong
  • Lots of recipes for dishes with 5 carbs or less
  • Recipes that de-carb no-nos like Southern fried chicken and Philly cheese steak sandwiches
  • Recipes for soups, seafood, and meat dishes, including pork chops, lamb and steaks (with a steak chart so you can chart a low-carb course)
  • Recipes for great desserts, including chocolate specialties and cheesecake
  • Vegetarian recipes and crock pot specialties
  • Terrific wrap recipes using lettuce, tortillas, or crepes
  • Guidelines for eating low-carb when you’re dining out or brown-bagging it

Author Jan McCracken, a health advocate and low-carber for more than ten years, has written two low-carb cookbooks and is a contributor to numerous low-carb publications. Having fallen off the low-carb wagon several times herself, she alerts you to things that can sabotage your success and clues you in on carb counting and techniques that have worked for her. You’ll get started right with:

  • Mini-courses on low-carb math and on low-carb nutritition and the glycemic index
  • A shopping list for stocking a low-carb kitchen
  • The scoop on different kinds of carbs and artificial sweeteners
  • Tips on using spices creatively for variety and flavor
  • Advice on incorporating exercise, including taking the first step (and lots more steps) with a pedometer
  • Tips for reducing stress (a common cause of bingeing)

With this information, you won’t be mystified. With the fantastic recipes, you won’t feel deprived. You will be inspired to stick to a low-carb lifestyle—one that can help you lose weight and feel healthier!

Read More

About The Author

Jan McCracken has authored two low-carb cookbooks and writes for Fabulous Foods' Low-Carb Newsletter and CarbSmart Online Magazine, as well as her own online newsletter.

Sample Chapters

healthy carb cookbook for dummies

CHEAT SHEET

Start incorporating healthy carbohydrates in your recipes by understanding the different kinds of carbs and how your body uses them. Avoid some foods (including sugar alcohols) if you want to adapt a healthy-carb lifestyle and look for a few words on menus or in recipes that signify that a dish is healthy — or serve as a warning that something's bad for you.

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Articles from
the book

This arugula, radicchio, and goat cheese salad will make your mouth sing. The salad’s barely bitter radicchio and bittersweet arugula, combined with the goat cheese, really wake up your taste buds. Preparation time: 12 minutes Yield: 6 servings 2 shallots 1 garlic clove 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 packets Splenda sugar substitute 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 10 ounces arugula 2 heads radicchio 4 ounces soft goat cheese Peel and very thinly slice the shallots.
This combination of Brussels sprouts and fresh mushrooms with the aroma and flavor of fresh rosemary makes a delightful side dish. Brussels sprouts and mushrooms with rosemary is high on the healthy side and very low on the carb side. Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 8 to 10 minutes Yield: 5 servings 2 cups small, fresh Brussels sprouts 1 clove garlic 1 lemon 1 cup fresh mushrooms 3 tablespoons butter 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary 1/8 teaspoon pepper 5 fresh sprigs rosemary for garnish (optional) In a medium saucepan, place the Brussels sprouts in about an inch of water.
The original cheese-steak sandwich is believed to have its roots in 1930s Philadelphia. This low-carb version, the cheesy hot steak wrap, substitutes a tortilla wrap for the bun — but it still has all the flavor! Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 8 minutes Yield: 4 wraps 1/2 clove garlic 1 yellow onion 4 green peppers 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/2 pound thin-sliced deli roast beef 1/4 cup Italian salad dressing 4 low-carb whole-wheat tortillas 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese Finely mince the garlic.
There are so many wonderfully tasty food and snack choices available to you when you're living a healthy low-carb lifestyle that it'd take pages to list them. So, instead, while you're choosing from all the great options you can take advantage of, here are a few to avoid, because they aren't low-carb acceptab
Start incorporating healthy carbohydrates in your recipes by understanding the different kinds of carbs and how your body uses them. Avoid some foods (including sugar alcohols) if you want to adapt a healthy-carb lifestyle and look for a few words on menus or in recipes that signify that a dish is healthy — or serve as a warning that something's bad for you.
Cheeses are a bountiful low-carb staple. Most cheeses have few carbs — if they have any carbs at all. All of your everyday cheeses are low in carbs, and they make up just the tip of the proverbial cheese iceberg: Goat cheese Cream cheese Swiss, cheddar, mozzarella, and provolone Parmesan Cottage cheese Because cheese is full of protein and calcium, it makes a great snack when you feel that starvation pang.
A simple combination of thyme and a touch of lemon makes this halibut a mouthwatering low-carb entree. You wrap this lemon-thyme halibut in parchment paper (called en papillote), a process that may open up to you new horizons for cooking fish. Preparation time: 40 minutes Cooking time: 15 to 18 minutes Yield: 4 servings 1/2 cup olive oil 12 sprigs fresh thyme, divided 4 halibut fillets (approximately 8 ounces each) 4 lemons 8 tablespoons white wine 2 fresh medium-sized tomatoes Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Black soybeans are just delicious. You can use black soybeans, which are low in carbs, in all kinds of dishes, including chili and dips. Naturally low-carb black soybeans’ flavor is great in anything, and they have all kinds of positives: Low net carbs: The official count on a 1/2 cup of black soybeans is 8 grams of carbs and 7 grams of fiber — pretty awesome at only 1 net gram of carbs.
Maintaining a healthy-carb lifestyle often means reducing the amount of natural sugars (from sugar cane or sugar beets), in your diet. Sugar alcohols are commonly used in place of sugar in prepared foods. Some folks suffer gastric pain and upset, bloating, and diarrhea from them. If you suspect that you have an allergy to a sugar alcohol, the only way to know is to experiment until you isolate which one you need to avoid (or indulge in moderation).
Veronique? Not to worry — it just means to garnish with grapes. This orange chicken dish is both easy and elegant, so consider orange chicken veronique when you’re expecting guests. Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 25 to 30 minutes Yield: 6 servings 1 tablespoon light olive oil or vegetable oil 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 1/2 cup orange juice (preferably low-carb) 1/2 cup dry white wine 2 packets Splenda sugar substitute 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon white pepper 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves 1 teaspoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon water 1/2 cup seedless green grapes 1/2 cup seedless red grapes 1 orange Place a 12-inch nonstick skillet on medium high heat and add the oil.
The secret of becoming a great low-carb cook is planning. Plan your low-carb meals in advance. Planning your low-carb meals makes managing carbs easier and, in the end, saves you a lot of time. When planning your meals, consider how long your dishes will take to cook: Fresh fish cooks very quickly, and it’s full of nutrients and easy on the carb counts.
This raspberry pie recipe makes a wonderful low-carb dessert. The raspberry ribbon pie isn’t only delicious and very different, with its meringue crust, but it’s also very pretty. Preparation time: 30 minutes, plus 3 hours chilling Cooking time: 1 hour and 35 minutes Yield: 6 servings Nonstick cooking spray 4 eggs 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar 6 1/2 tablespoons Splenda Sugar Blend for Baking 1 1/4 cups water 1 4-serving package sugar-free raspberry gelatin 10-ounce package frozen red raspberries, unsweetened 1 tablespoon lemon juice 3 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla Dash of salt 1 cup heavy cream Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
Borscht is a rich Eastern European soup that contains beets or cabbage. Other borscht ingredients may include potatoes, beans, meat, or sausage. According to old cooking folklore, a wooden spoon will stand upright when stuck into the pot of borscht if it’s done correctly. Preparation time: 10 to 15 minutes Cooking time: 8 to 9 hours Yield: 12 servings 1 head green cabbage 1 pound fresh beets 5 carrots 1 parsnip 1 yellow onion 4 cloves garlic 1 pound beef chuck 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained 3 cans (15 ounces each) beef broth 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 packet Splenda sugar substitute 1 teaspoon pepper 12 heaping tablespoons sour cream Thinly slice the cabbage.
This elegant crab scramble can make scrambled eggs into a meal masterpiece. To make your crab scramble a downright beautiful low-carb egg breakfast, decorate the plate with some colorful fresh fruit and a sprig of mint or parsley. Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 5 minutes Yield: 4 servings 8-ounce can lump crabmeat Fresh chives 2 tablespoons butter Salt and pepper to taste 8 eggs 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese Chop the crabmeat.
Steak Diane is a classic filet-mignon entree often served in some of the finest restaurants — but there’s no reason you can’t make Steak Diane in your very own kitchen. It comes together so quickly that you can prepare this steak dish any night of the week. Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 12 to 14 minutes Yield: 2 servings 2 6-ounce filet mignons 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 3 tablespoons butter 2 to 3 shallots 1 lemon Fresh chives 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon brandy 1 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley, finely minced Season both sides of the meat with salt and pepper.
Going low-carb is as simple as changing a few eating habits. Here are ten tips that can help you in living a healthy, active, low-carbohydrate lifestyle. Select foods with nutritious carbs, not empty calories (nutrient dense food). Eat more foods with high fiber content, such as veggies, whole grains, and fruits.
Carbohydrates are molecules made of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. They are sometimes referred to as carbs or carbos. Carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy and the first energy that the body uses (though fiber is calorie free). Carbs include Starches Sugar Fiber 'Carbohydrates are found mostly in plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Here's a list of words that can spell trouble for your low-carb lifestyle whether they appear on a packaged food, in a recipe, or on a menu. Most of these words are coupled with high carb and/or sugar counts. The keyword here is beware! All you can eat Batter-fried Breaded Covered in sauce Crispy
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Frequently Asked Questions

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