May (Low-Carb, Gluten and Nut-Free) Menu

How is it even May?  This year is just flying by, but I am glad that summer is almost here.  My

Not a short list of allergens.  

family and I have several fun weekend trips and special events planned.  Now that I am aware of what all of my allergies are, I'm going to have to really plan on what I eat (or when I don't eat) on the road.  Staying low carb, gluten free and high fat while I traveled has always been tricky, but doable, but with so many allergies to fruits and vegetables, my options are even more limited.  Luckily, I always have intermittent fasting to fall back so if I need to fast longer than normal (16 hours a day), I can.  You can bet I'll be putting together a list (in blog form too) of what to pack so I don't cheat (too much).

May is shaping up to be an extremely busy, but fun, month for us.  I have 3 races (Cinco de Miles, Gate City Half Marathon and Boston's Run to Remember).   There is also Mother's Day and my daughter's first ever dance recital.  Not that this is any different from usual, but I am going to try to keep my recipes as easy and quick to cook as possible.

Since I do have so many races this month and the weather should be better, we'll most likely pick up some pre-marinated meats from our local butcher shop, Mr. Steer, to grill so I didn't include recipes for those nights.





Are you ready for this month's list?

• Pork Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Taco Bake
• Sloppy Joe's
• Buffalo Chicken Jalapeno Popper Casserole
• Mongolian Beef
• General Tso's Meatballs
• Beefed up Meatloaf
• Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken with Vegetables
• Grilled Ginger Soy Pork Chops 

And, just to make my nutritionist happy, I'll be adding lots of vegetables to my diet as well.  Veggies, veggies and more veggies!

Here is a new one I'd like to try:  Roasted Spiced Radishes.  

Stuffed Bell Peppers (Low Carb)

The basic ingredients.

About a year ago when I was re-dedicating myself to the low-carb lifestyle, I stumbled upon a multitude of recipes for stuffed bell peppers.  The recipes seemed easy enough, which as a working mom is super important to me, and none of the ingredients were exotic, another plus.  I found them great for lunches as they were easy to reheat.  Also, I played around with what I stuffed them with.  Sometimes I used cream cheese and mayo.  Other times I used cream cheese and sour cream.  I'd switch up the crumbled bacon with pepperoni if I didn't have any on hand.  Point is, once you start making these you can switch up the ingredients as much as you want and really make them your own to fit your taste.

Ingredients

• 8 Ounces of cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese 
• 2 Tablespoons of full fat mayonnaise
• 2 Green (or really, any color) bell pepper
• 2 slices of bacon, turkey or pig, your choice
• 2 teaspoons of garlic powder (optional)
• Any additional low carb toppings that you would like!

Directions

The finished product!  Yum. 

• Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
• Soften the cream cheese and then mix it with the Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise and garlic powder.
• Slice open and clean out the peppers of all seeds.  
• Spoon in the mixture into the open-faced peppers and add any additional toppings you might want.
• Place the peppers onto a greased cookie sheet and put into pre-heated oven for at least 25 minutes.  I like mine a little crispier so if you do too you might want to put them in for longer.  
• Let them cool down for a bit before enjoying.
• These re-heat wonderfully for lunch the next day.  

Easy Chocolate Fat Bomb!

It's been a hell of a week and all I want to do is relax on the couch with a beer and pizza, but I know if I do I'll end up with a nasty stomach that will ruin my weekend.  

So instead, I'll pop a gluten-free pizza in the oven (not low on carbs), sip on some wine and whip up a fat bomb or as this nerd likes to call it a Fat Bob-omb!

Tonight I'll be making a Keto Chocolate Mousse.  It is super easy and equally as delicious.

Ingredients  

• Unsalted butter – 60g (2oz)
• Philadelphia cream cheese – 60g (2oz)
• Fresh double cream (heavy cream in the US), whipped – 90ml (3oz)
• sugar-free cocoa powder – 1 tbsp, I honestly just use the Hershey's unsweetened.  It is pretty low in carbs (1 net carb per serving I think).
• Stevia or another sweetener to taste – 1 tbsp

Instructions

• Leave butter at room temperature until softened (or blast in the microwave for 10-15 seconds if you haven’t got the time)
• Mix butter with sweetener, keep mixing until completely blended
• Add cream cheese, blend completely into a smooth mass
• Add cocoa powder, blend completely
• Whip double cream and gradually add to the rest of the mixture, mixing well
• Spoon into small glasses (I like to put it in wine glasses to make me feel fancy) and decorate with shavings of dark chocolate
• If you have the time, refrigerate for 30 mins or so – it will taste even nicer.

Now you might be asking yourself why I am eating a FAT BOMB if I want to lose weight?  Well, simple, fat keeps you feeling fuller longer and yes, your body needs fat.  Fat bombs are a quick snack that let you keep up your energy.  They also provide lots of healthy fat that your body needs to reduce your cholesterol and your risk of heat disease.  

As a runner, a fat bomb is a great way for me to fill up before a race but not to the point where I get sick from eating too much.  Remember, I have a sensitive stomach and I am still trying to figure out what works before a run and what doesn't in terms of energy.  For my first 10K (6.2 miles) I fasted for 17 hours beforehand.  My stomach felt great but I was EXHAUSTED by the end.  Had I indulged in a fat bomb beforehand I could have been in better shape.  

For more information on why fat is healthy check out Butter Bob and his website Butter Makes Your Pants Fall Off.  He also shares information on Intermittent Fasting which I practice and will talk about in a later post.  

How to Get Started on a Low Carb, High Fat, Gluten Free Lifestyle?

After posting my weight loss results yesterday I have fielded a TON of questions about how I did it.

I am more than happy to help, but I must be fair in warning everyone that this is NOT EASY.  You didn't put the weight on in a day so you are not going to lose it all in a day.

Being low carb in the United States where everything sugar and wheat reigns supreme is flipping HARD.  Temptation is everywhere!

It also doesn't help that we grew up being told that cereal and toast were ideal breakfast foods.  How many of us had PB&J sandwiches for lunch?  A roll every night with dinner and then we scarfed down a sweet dessert.  Wheat and sugar are the norm in our society.  Our government has drilled it into our brains that we NEED it.

Well, I've got news for you.  Nobody needs wheat or sugar.

But I digress.

You wanted to know how I got started.

First, I read the book The Metabolism Miracle by Diane Kress.  It was a game changer for me.  I fit what she called "Metabolism B" to a T!  I followed all of her steps and dropped 30 pounds in 3 months!  Then I got pregnant and gained 80 but thats another story....

How do you know if you have Metabolism B?  If you have a few of these characteristics (taken from her website) then this is most likely the diet plan for you.

Do you have Metabolism B?

____ You tire easily and frequently feel fatigued, even upon awaking.

____ You feel mildly depressed.

____ You feel an energy slump in the late afternoon.

____ You frequently feel anxious.

____ You crave carbohydrate foods, such as bread, chips, sweets, or pasta.

____ Your midsection has a roll of fat., lovehandles, muffin top, or back fat

____ You gain weight easily and find it difficult to lose weight.

____ You have racing thoughts.

____ Your sexual drive has declined or vanished

____ You find it difficult to focus and concentrate and are easily distracted.

____ You are irritable and have a "short fuse".

____ You feel slightly dizzy, flushed, or "weak in the knees" after even a little bit of alcohol.

After having my daughter I went back to The Metabolism Miracle, but I had a hard time sticking to it (re:  putting myself first) juggling a baby, breastfeeding, a full time job, a household to manage and a husband.  My saving grace after having my daughter was finding low - carb recipes on the internet.  Pinterest was a God send!

If you'd like to check out what I've got pinned on Pinterest follow me here:

https://www.pinterest.com/sabby12s/      

I have more to say about how I eat on a low carb, high fat, gluten free diet and yes I feed my family on this way of life too, but I'm going to save that for another day.  My daughter is dying for some cuddle time on the couch as we watch "The Penguin" movie for the millionth time.  

As always, do not hesitate to ask any questions about what I've outlined above.  I want everyone to be happy and healthy and to enjoy LIFE!