Category Archives: Recipes

September 15, 2014 · 4:43 PM

Low-Carb Recipe: Waldorfian Salad

paleobetic diet, low-carb diet

One cup of Waldorfian salad. I doubled the cinnamon in this batch, so yours won’t look quite like this.

Today’s meal is inspired by the classic Waldorf salad, made famous by New York’s Waldorf Hotel over a century ago. Now the hotel is called the Waldorf-Astoria.

The primary ingredients are apples, walnuts, and celery.

The original Waldorf salad was made with mayonnaise, which I’ve left out of this recipe since I designed it for a paleo-style diet I’m working on. Most commercial mayonnaises are made with vegetable oil, so they wouldn’t be fully compliant with a pure paleo diet.

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Good source of omega-3 fatty acids

Instead of mayonnaise, we use a dressing—a vinaigrette—made with walnut oil. Walnut oil is attractive in part because it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids: 1.77 grams per tbsp (15 ml). Compared with Paleolithic diets, modern Western diets are too low in omega-3s and too high in omega-6s (thanks to vegetable oils). You can use your left-over walnut oil the way you’d use olive oil. If you don’t want to buy or can’t find  walnut oil, just use extra virgin olive oil.

paleobetic diet, low-carb diet, ketogenic diet

I made my dressing in this BPA-laden plastic container

This recipe makes two large servings of 2 cups (480 ml) each. Small or sedentary folks may well be satisfied with a 1- or 1.5-cup serving.

paleobetic diet, low-carb diet, ketogenic diet

Apples are the primary source of carbohydrates in this recipe.

Ingredients:

2 apples, raw, medium size, skin on, diced (I used Red Delicious; consider Granny Smith, Fuji, or Gala)

3 celery stalks, 8-inches long (20 cm), diced

1 cup (240 ml) walnuts, broken by hand into small chunks (Option for ? more flavor: toast in a skillet over medium-high heat for 7-10 minutes or in oven (350 F or 175 C) on baking sheet for 10 minutes

1/4 tsp (1.2 ml) black pepper, ground

1/4 tsp (1.2 ml) salt

1.5 tbsp (22 ml) walnut oil (or extra virgin olive oil)

1 tbsp (15 ml) cider vinegar

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) cinnamon

1/4 tsp (1.2 ml) nutmeg

Instructions:

First make a dressing with the bottom six ingredients. I put mine in a small container with a lid, then shook vigorously. Or you can put them in a small bowel and whisk them.

paleobetic diet, low-carb diet, ketogenic diet

Walnut pieces

Place the walnuts, apples and celery in a bowel, add the dressing and toss thoroughly. You’re done.

Serve as is, or chill first in the refrigerator. Maybe it was my imagination, but I thought it tasted better after it sat on the counter for 10 minutes. Consider serving on a bed of lettuce (1-2 oz), but if you do, increase your digestible carb count by 1-2 grams.

If you want more calories or protein than this recipe provides, chicken or steak should go well with Waldorfian salad and won’t increase your carb grams.

Number of Servings: 2 (2 cups each)

Nutritional Analysis:

73% fat

21% carbohydrate

6% protein

500 calories

27.5 g carbohydrate

7.6 g fiber

20 g digestible carbohydrate

341 mg sodium

529 mg potassium

Prominent features: High in copper and manganese, low in sodium. On a 2,000 calorie diet, this provides only 15% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein, so you’ll want to eat more protein at some point during the day.

Steve Parker, M.D.

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September 1, 2014 · 10:26 PM

Recipe: BLT Avocado Wraps + Pecans

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Ready to roll up and eat

BLT = bacon, lettuce, and tomato.

BLT sandwiches are classic American food. But if served on traditional white bread, they may provide more carbohydrate grams than may diabetics can safely handle. This recipe switches out bread for lettuce, making them compatible with the Ketogenic Mediterranean and Low-Carb Mediterranean Diets.

Some studies link processed meats like bacon with cardiovascular disease and cancer, other studies don’t. If you want to be cautious with your health, don’t go hog-wild with bacon or other processed meats like hot dogs, bologna, and liverwurst.

Avocados come in hundreds of varieties. In the U.S., we mainly have California avocados (aka Hass) and Florida avocados. Californians are by far the market leader. They reign at the Parker Compound.

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California or Hass avocado

paleobetic diet, paleo diet for diabetes

Florida avocado

California avocados are smaller dark green lumpy-skinned ones. Florida avocados are larger, smoother-skinned, and lighter green. Monica Reinagel has an article comparing the two, with notes on ripening and storage.

Oh, and by the way, avocados are fruits, not vegetables. But you knew that, right?

Ingredients:

1 California (Hass) avocado, raw, medium size (about 4 x 2.5 inches or 10 x 6 cm), peeled and seeded, cut into long strips

6 bacon strips, medium thickness

4 oz (115 g) lettuce (e.g., iceberg, romaine, bibb, or broad-leaf lettuce you prefer)

4 oz (115 g) tomato, raw (this is about one-and-a half roma tomatoes or one medium regular tomato), cut into long strips

1 oz (30 g) pecans (option: substitute your favorite tree nut except for cashews—too many carbs)

Instructions:

Fry your bacon in a skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Next you’re gong to build two wraps. Lay out about two oz (60 g) of lettuce and load it with three bacon strips, half your tomato, and half your avocado. Fold or wrap lettuce edges together and enjoy. Repeat with remaining ingredients. The pecans are for dessert.

paleobetic diet, paleo diet for diabetes

Parker Compound guard dogs waiting for bacon

Number of Servings: 1 (that’s 2 wraps plus nuts)

Nutritional Analysis:

74% fat

12% carbohydrate

14% protein

720 calories

24 g carbohydrate

15 g fiber

9 g digestible carbohydrate

1137 mg sodium

1507 mg potassium

Prominent features: Good source of fiber, sodium, protein, vitamin B6, niacin, thiamine, pantothenic acid, copper, manganese, phosphorus, and selenium.

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August 5, 2014 · 4:07 AM

Recipe: Steak, Avocado, Olives, and Tomato

Paleobetic diet

I ate mine for breakfast. Who needs bagels, cereal, and donuts?

This meal has only 8 grams of digestible carbohydrate so it works in both the Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet and Low-Carb Mediterranean Diet. It was super-easy to put together because I used leftover steak. But I’ll assume you’re cooking your steak fresh. We bought ours as thinly sliced round steak, about a 1/4-inch thick (0.6 cm). Some places refer to this as a “minute steak” because it cooks so quickly. Minute steak also refers to a piece of beef, usually the round, that’s been pounded flat, about a 1/4-inch thick. Even if you start with raw meat, you can prepare today’s recipe in 10 minutes.

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It tastes as good as it looks

Ingredients:

4 oz (113 g) cooked thin round steak (start with 5 oz raw)

1 California (Hass) avocado, standard size (4.5 oz or 127 g), peeled, pitted, and chunked

14 black olives, pitted, medium size (Purist alert: probably highly processed)

1 tomato, medium-size (medium size or 2.5-inch diameter (6,4 cm), or a large roma tomato), cut into wedges

Salt and pepper to taste, or use commercial steak seasoning such as Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick (a favorite at the Parker Compound)

Instructions:

Sprinkle your steak with seasoning then cook over medium or medium-high heat in a skillet, about a minute on each side. Or heat your leftover steak in the microwave. If you overcook, it will be tough.

Place all ingredients artfully on a plate and enjoy.

Servings: 1

Nutritional Analysis (via Fitday):

60% fat

12% carbohydrate

28% protein

600 calories

20 g carbohydrate

12 g fiber

8 g digestible carbohydrate

587 mg sodium

1530 mg potassium

Prominent features: Lots of protein, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, copper, iron, niacin, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc

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June 30, 2014 · 2:24 AM

Recipe: Chicken Fafita Wraps

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It looks more appealing if you use green and red bell peppers

My earliest recollection of fajitas is from Austin, Texas, in 1981. I had just moved there from Oklahoma City to start my internship and residency in Internal Medicine. Back then fajitas were made with skirt steak, the diaphragm of a cow or steer. It was considered a cheap low-quality cut of meat. It’s not so cheap these days. You can also make fajitas with chicken. The contents of a traditional fajita are wrapped in a tortilla usually made with flour. To avoid blood sugar toxic blood sugar spikes, we’ll skip the tortilla. Use lettuce as a wrapper if you wish.

I wonder if the El Azteca Restaurant in Austin is still in business. Best Mexican food I ever had. I think it was on 6th Street or so, about 3/4 mile east of I-35. Good times.

By the way, the j in fajita is pronounced “h.” Accent on second syllable. “Fuh-HEET-uh.”

Today we’re using chicken and making four servings

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Pre-cut chicken breasts and sweet mini-peppers

Ingredients:

1 lb (454 kg) chicken breast, raw, boneless and skinless, cut in strips about 1/4-inch wide (you can often buy it this way)

7 oz onion, raw, cut in long crescent shapes about a 1/4-inch wide (0.6 cm)

6 oz (170 g) bell pepper, raw, cut in long strips roughly a 1/4-inch wide (these are also called sweet peppers; a combination of the red and green ones is eye-pleasing)

2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil

5 or 6 oz (155 g) tomato, raw, cut in long strips

1 tsp (5 ml) salt

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) pepper

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) chili powder

1 tsp (5 ml) parsley flakes

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) oregano leaves

1 pinch of cumin

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) paprika

(Optional: You could replace all these spices with a 1-oz (28 g) pack of Lawry’s Chicken Fajitas Spices & Seasoning. The sodium and potassium values below would be different.)

1/3 cup (80 ml) water

16 oz (454 g) lettuce (e.g., iceberg, romaine, or bibb)

4 oz (113 g) walnuts

4 pears, small (about 1/3 lb or 150 g each))

Instructions:

Add the onions, peppers, and 1 tbsp (15 ml)  olive oil to a 12-inch (30 cm) skillet and cook at medium-high heat until tender, stirring occasionally. This’ll take about 10 minutes. Set the skillet contents aside.

paleobetic diet, paleo diet for diabetes

This is double the recipe amount since there are six humanoids in my household

paleobetic diet, paleo diet for diabetics

The vegetables reduce volume by half while cooking

In the same pan, add 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil and the chicken and cook at medium to medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until chicken is thoroughly cooked. For me, this cooked quicker than the vegetables. But don’t overcook or the chicken will get tough. Then add the water and all the spices. Bring to a boil while stirring occasionally, then simmer on low heat a few minutes. This is your fajita filling.

My original plan was to make “fajita wraps,” wrapping the cooked fajitas into a large leaf of iceberg lettuce. This was pretty messy, especially since I love the sauce in the bottom of the pan. I tried two leafs as a base: still messy. Finally I just made a bed of lettuce (4 oz) and loaded the fajita concoction right on top. Mess gone. Try a different lettuce? Skip the lettuce entirely and you can reduce digestible carb count in each serving by 2 grams.

Enjoy the walnuts and pear with your meal.

Leftovers taste just as good as fresh-cooked, perhaps even better.

I have another fajita recipe using skirt steak marinated in commercial Zesty Italian Dressing in the refrigerator overnight or for at least four hours. Grill it over coals outside. Yum! I don’t recall whether I added lemon juice to the marinade or squirted it on the meat just before serving. You would just cook the onions and peppers on a pan on the stove as above, with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with a margarita and I’ll make you an honorary Texan.

Number of servings: 4

Serving size: A cup (240 ml) of the fajita mixture, 4 oz (113 g) lettuce, 1 oz (28 g) walnuts, 1 small pear. One cup makes two lettuce wraps.

Nutritional Analysis Per Serving:

48% fat

26% carbohydrate

26% protein

Calories: 514

37 g carbohydrate

10 g fiber grams

27 g digestible carbohydrate (25 g if you skip the lettuce)

928 mg sodium

904 mg potassium

Prominent features: Rich in protein, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C,copper, iron, manganese, niacin, phosphorus, and selenium.

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Another view, prior to rolling it up (wrapping)

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March 16, 2014 · 10:28 PM

Meal Plans For “Conquer Diabetes and Prediabetes”

For both types 1 and type 2 diabetes, carbohydrate restriction is a great way to help control blood sugars and minimize the toxicity and expense of drug therapy. Here are some low-carb recipes from my book, Conquer Diabetes and Prediabetes.

These are Hass or California avocados (the other common one in the U.S is the Florida avocado)

These are Hass or California avocados (the other common one in the U.S is the Florida avocado)

Breakfast:  Steak and Avocado

4 oz (110 g) raw steak

1 California avocado, peeled, seeded, and sliced (136 g)

½ tbsp (7 ml) olive oil (optional)

salt and pepper

1 tbsp (15 ml) vinaigrette (see below) or commercial Italian dressing (regular, not low-fat, with less than 2 g of carb per tbsp or 15 ml)

Cook the steak over medium heat, adding half a tbsp (7 ml) olive oil at the start if desired. Salt and pepper to taste. Peel and slice a California avocado. Dress avocado with homemade vinaigrette or commercial Italian dressing. Salt and pepper to taste. Digestible carb grams: 4.

AMD VINAIGRETTE

Try this on salads, fresh vegetables, or as a marinade for chicken, fish, or beef. If using as a marinade, keep the entree/marinade combo in the refrigerator for 4–24 hours. Seasoned vinaigrettes taste even better if you let them sit for several hours after preparation. This recipe was in my first book, The Advanced Mediterranean Diet; hence, “AMD vinaigrette.”

Ingredients

1 clove (3 g) garlic

juice from ½ lemon (23 g or ml)

a third of a cup (78 ml) oil olive

2 tbsp (8 g) fresh parsley

½ tsp (2.5 ml)) salt

½ tsp (2.5 ml) yellow mustard

½ tsp (1.2 ml) paprika

2 tbsp (30 ml) red wine vinegar

Preparation

In a bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk together. Alternatively, you can put all ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake vigorously. Let sit at room temperature for an hour, for flavors to meld. Then refrigerate. It should “keep” for at least 5 days in refrigerator. Shake before using. Servings per batch: 3.

Nutrient Analysis:

Recipe makes 3 servings (2 tbsp or 30 ml per serving). Each serving has 220 calories, 2 g digestible carb, almost no fiber, negligible protein, 24 g fat. 3% of calories are from carbohydrate, 97% from fat.

Lunch:  Aguacate Cucumber Salad

5 oz (140 g) cucumber, peeled and sliced into rounds

1 California avocado, peeled, seeded, and sliced (136 g)

2 tbsp (30 ml) AMD vinaigrette (see above) or commercial Italian dressing described below

salt and pepper

dash of lime or lemon juice (optional)

1 oz walnuts

Mix the cucumber and avocado in a bowl with the AMD vinaigrette or commercial Italian dressing (regular, not low-fat, with 3 g or fewer carbs per 2 tbsp or 30 ml). Salt and pepper to taste. For extra zing, add a dash of lemon or lime juice. Enjoy the walnuts on the side now, or mid-afternoon as a snack. Digestible carb grams: 10.

Dinner:  Bacon Shrimp Salad

2 slices (15 g) pork bacon, cured, cooked (or substitute 2 tbsp (30 ml) commercial real bacon bits)

2 tbsp (30 ml) AMD vinaigrette (see above) or commercial Italian dressing as below

½ packet of tabletop Splenda

4 oz (110 g) fresh baby spinach

4 oz (110 g) cooked shrimp (Consider commercial pre-cooked, peeled shrimp to save time)

6 oz (180 ml) dry white wine

Cook two bacon slices over medium heat, then crumble or cut in to tiny pieces (or substitute commercial real bacon bits). Add a half packet of Splenda to the AMD vinaigrette or commercial Italian dressing (regular, not low-fat, with 3 g or fewer carbs per 2 tbsp or 30 ml), then mix. On a bed of fresh baby spinach, place the cooked shrimp, then top with bacon pieces and vinaigrette. Enjoy with 6 oz dry white wine. Digestible carb grams: 9.

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March 5, 2014 · 1:52 AM

Meal Plans For “Conquer Diabetes and Prediabetes”

For both types 1 and type 2 diabetes, carbohydrate restriction is a great way to help control blood sugars and minimize the toxicity and expense of drug therapy. Here are some low-carb recipes from my book, Conquer Diabetes and Prediabetes. You can also easily incorporate them into a ketogenic diet.

Breakfast:  Chicken Salad Over Greens

1 large egg (50 g)

5-oz can (150 g) of cooked chicken (drain and discard liquid)

½ oz (14 g) onion (2 tbsp or 30 ml), diced

½ stick (40 g) of celery, diced

2 tbsp (30 ml) Miracle Whip Salad Dressing or regular mayonnaise (not low-fat)

salt and pepper

2 oz (60 g) romaine lettuce

2 oz (60 g) raw baby spinach

dash of lemon or lime juice (optional)

1 oz (28 g) walnuts

Hard-boil the large egg, then peel and dice. Place the chicken into a bowl then add the egg, diced onion, diced celery, and the Miracle Whip Salad Dressing. Mix all together, with salt and pepper and/or a dash of lemon or lime juice to taste. Place on bed of romaine lettuce and fresh baby spinach. Enjoy walnuts around mealtime or later as a snack. Digestible carb grams: 11.

Lunch:  Kippered Herring and Cheese

3.5 oz (100 g) canned herring

3 oz (80 g) cheese

Digestible carb grams: 2.

Dinner: Hamburger and Salad

8 oz (225 g) raw hamburger meat

1 oz (28 g) onion, finely chopped

1 tbsp (15 ml) A.1. Steak Sauce or Worcestershire sauce

salt and pepper

3 oz (85 g) lettuce

3 oz (85 g) tomato, cut into chunks

2 oz (60 g) cucumber, peeled and sliced

1.5 tbsp (22 ml) olive oil

½ tbsp (7 ml) vinegar

To the raw hamburger meat, add the chopped onion, A.1. Steak Sauce or Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend thoroughly with your hands. (No particular need for lean hamburger; it’s your choice.) Cook in pan over medium heat. While cooking, prepare your salad.

In a bowl, place the lettuce, tomato chunks, sliced cucumber, and finally, the olive oil and vinegar. Mix salad thoroughly. Salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy with 6 oz of red wine. Digestible carb grams: 13.

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December 3, 2013 · 2:00 AM

Meal Plans To “Conquer Diabetes and Prediabetes”

For both types 1 and type 2 diabetes, carbohydrate restriction is a great way to help control blood sugars and minimize the toxicity and expense of drug therapy. Here are some low-carb recipes from my book, Conquer Diabetes and Prediabetes.

Breakfast:  Mexican Scrambled Eggs

4 large eggs (50 g each)

1.5 tbsp (22 ml) olive oil

4 tbsp (60 ml) Pico de Gallo a la Rose (see my post of Jan. 5, 2013) or commercial picante sauce (having 2 g or fewer carbs per 2 tbsp)

salt and pepper

Whisk the eggs until smooth, add salt and pepper to taste; set aside. Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized frying pan then add the eggs and cook until done, scrambling now and then. Transfer to plate and top with 4 tbsp (60 ml) Pico de Gallo a al Rosa. Digestible carb grams: 6.

Lunch:  Low-Carb Chili

1 cup (240 ml) Low-Carb Chili (see below)

1 oz (28 g) almonds

Enjoy 1 oz of almonds around mealtime or later as a snack. Digestible carb grams: 13.

LOW-CARB CHILI

It’s spicy, but not hot spicy. Peeled and sliced cold cucumbers make a nice side dish. If your children or housemates aren’t eating low-carb, they may enjoy the chili mixed 50:50 with cheese macaroni, and buttered cornbread on the side.

Ingredients

20 oz (567 g) raw ground beef, 80% lean meat/20% fat

20 oz (567 g) raw pork Italian sausage

1 large onion

14.5 oz (411 g) canned diced tomatoes

4 oz (113 g) tomato paste

1 tbsp (15 ml) dry unsweetened cocoa powder

5  garlic cloves

½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt

¼ tsp (1.2 ml) ground allspice

2 tbsp (30 ml) chili powder

¼ tsp (1.2 ml) ground cinnamon

½ tbsp (7.5 ml) ground cumin

¼ tsp (1.2 ml) ground cayenne pepper

2 packets (1 g per packet) Splenda tabletop sweetener

1 cup (240 ml) water

Preparation

Cut the Italian sausage into small pieces. Sauté the sausage, ground beef, onions, and garlic in a large pot. Don’t just brown the meat, cook it thoroughly. When done, drain off the fat if desired. Add the remainder of ingredients, bring to a boil, then simmer for about an hour. Add additional water if the chili looks too thick. Makes eight cups. Serving size is one cup (240 ml).

Nutrient Analysis:

Recipe makes 8 servings of 1 cup (240 ml). Each serving has 492 calories, 14 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 11 g digestible carbohydrate, 24 g protein, 38 g fat. 10% of calories are from carbohydrate, 21% from protein, 69% from fat.

Notes: Analysis is based on fat not being drained from the cooked meat. Calorie count and calories from fat would be a bit lower if you drained off fat.

Dinner:  Shark and Broccoli

4 oz (110 g) shark, raw

2 cloves (3 g) garlic, peeled and diced

3 tbsp (45 ml) olive oil

1.5 cups (150 g) chopped raw broccoli

salt and pepper

6 oz (180 ml) dry white wine

Lightly salt and pepper the shark, then set aside. Sauté the garlic in 2 tbsp (30 cc) of the olive oil a few minutes over medium heat. Then add the broccoli and sauté to your preference, adding salt and pepper to taste. Remove to a dish. Add another 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil to the pan and sauté the shark at medium heat until done, careful not to overcook. Enjoy with dry white wine. Digestible carb grams: 11.

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October 1, 2013 · 2:00 AM

Recipe: Pico De Gallo

According to Wikipedia, pico de gallo is Spanish for rooster’s beak. I always thought it was peck of the rooster, because it’s got some bite to it. You decide how spicy you want it based on how much jalapeño you use. Also note that one batch of jalapeños is different in heat from the next.

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Our rooster, Chuck: handsome but mean!

Pico de gallo is a condiment that compliments eggs, meat, and guacamole, to name a few. I throw it in a bowl of soup sometimes. Save any you don’t eat in the ‘frig, but eat it within three days.

Ingredients:

  • tomatoes, fresh, 7 oz (200 g), chopped very finely
  • onion, fresh, 2 oz (60 g), chopped very finely
  • jalapeño pepper, fresh, 1 whole (14 g), chopped very finely after discarding stem
  • cilantro, fresh, 10–15 sprigs chopped finely to yield 3–4 tbsp (2 g)
  • salt, 2 pinches (2/16 tsp) or to taste

Instructions:

If you prefer less spicy heat, use less jalapeno and don’t use the seeds. Combine all ingredients and you’re done. Eat at room temperature, chilled, or heated at medium heat in a saucepan (about 5 minutes, until jalapenos lose their intense green color).

Servings: 3 servings of 1/2 cup (120 ml) each.

Nutritional Analysis Per Serving:

  • 8% fat
  • 81% carbohydrate
  • 11% protein
  • 21 calories
  • 4.5 g carbohydrate
  • 1.2 g fiber
  • 3.3 g digestible carbohydrate
  • 104 mg sodium (2 pinches of added salt)
  • 216 mg potassium
paleo diet, Steve Parker MD, pico de gallo

Some prefer it coarsely chopped like this – it’s quicker

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September 16, 2013 · 3:55 AM

Meal Plans For “Conquer Diabetes and Prediabetes”

For both types 1 and type 2 diabetes, carbohydrate restriction is a great way to help control blood sugars and minimize the toxicity and expense of drug therapy. Here are some low-carb recipes from my book, Conquer Diabetes and Prediabetes.

Breakfast:  Brats and Tomatoes

6 oz (170 g) tomato, sliced

2 tbsp (30 ml) AMD vinaigrette (see below) or commercial Italian dressing (regular, not low-fat, with 3 g or fewer carbs per 2 tbsp or 30 ml)

salt and pepper

2 pre-cooked bratwursts (about 2.3 oz or 65 g each)

6 tsp (30 ml) mustard (optional)

Dress the tomato slices with the vinaigrette, plus salt and pepper to taste. Heat 2 pre-cooked bratwursts as instructed on package. Use mustard on the brats if desired. Digestible carb grams: 8.

AMD VINAIGRETTE

Try this on salads, fresh vegetables, or as a marinade for chicken, fish, or beef. If using as a marinade, keep the entree/marinade combo in the refrigerator for 4–24 hours. Seasoned vinaigrettes taste even better if you let them sit for several hours after preparation. This recipe was in my first book, The Advanced Mediterranean Diet; hence, “AMD vinaigrette.”

Ingredients

1 clove (3 g) garlic

juice from ½ lemon (23 g or ml)

a third of a cup (78 ml) oil olive

2 tbsp (8 g) fresh parsley

½ tsp (2.5 ml)) salt

½ tsp (2.5 ml) yellow mustard

½ tsp (1.2 ml) paprika

2 tbsp (30 ml) red wine vinegar

Preparation

In a bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk together. Alternatively, you can put all ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake vigorously. Let sit at room temperature for an hour, for flavors to meld. Then refrigerate. It should “keep” for at least 5 days in refrigerator. Shake before using. Servings per batch: 3.

Nutrient Analysis:

Recipe makes 3 servings (2 tbsp or 30 ml per serving). Each serving has 220 calories, 2 g digestible carb, almost no fiber, negligible protein, 24 g fat. 3% of calories are from carbohydrate, 97% from fat.

Lunch:  Easy Tuna Plus Pecans

5-oz can (140 g) of albacore tuna

2 tbsp (30 ml) Miracle Whip Salad Dressing (or real, high-fat mayonnaise)

1 tsp (5 ml) lemon or lime juice

1 oz (28 g) pecan halves

Drain the liquid off the can of tuna then place tuna in a bowl. Add Miracle Whip Salad Dressing and lemon or lime juice. Mix thoroughly and enjoy. Eat 1 oz of pecan halves around mealtime or later as a snack. If you want to simplify this, forget the Miracle Whip and lemon; just use 1 oz (28 g) of commercial tartar sauce that derives at least 80% of calories from fat and has less than 3 g of carb per 2 tbsp or 30 ml. Digestible carb grams: 5.

Dinner:  Ham Salad

2 oz (60 g) cooked ham, cut in to small cubes

1 oz (28 g) celery, sliced and diced

1 oz (28 g) seedless grapes (about 4 grapes), cut into small chunks

1 oz (28 g) walnuts, coarsely crumbled

4 oz (110 g) romaine lettuce

3 tbsp AMD vinaigrette or commercial Italian, French, or ranch dressing having 2 or fewer grams of carb per 2 tbsp or 30 ml)

Lay out a bed of lettuce then sprinkle these on top: ham, celery, grapes, walnuts. Finish construction with AMD vinaigrette or commercial dressing. You’re done. Alternatively, substitute cooked chicken or steak for ham. With chicken, apple may work better than grapes. If having a glass of wine (6 fl oz or 180 ml) with meal, delete the grapes or the carb count will be too high. Digestible carb grams: 10.

(When commercial dressing is used, the digestible carb count is closer to 13 than 10 g.)

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August 6, 2013 · 5:37 AM

Low-Carb Breakfast: Brian’s Berry Breakfast

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Brian’s Berry Breakfast

My stepson came up with this one. Thanks, dude! If you think breakfast means eating out of a bowl, this one fits the bill.  And talk about easy!

Ingredients:

  • 4.5 oz (127 g) fresh strawberries, diced into small pieces
  • 2 oz (58 g) walnuts, crumbled by hand

Mix ingredients together in a bowl and enjoy eating with a spoon while your tablemates eat Neolithic Cheerios.

Nutritional analysis:

  • 76% fat
  • 16% carbohydrate
  • 8% protein
  • 410 calories
  • 17 carb grams
  • 6.2 g fiber
  • 10.9 g digestible carb
  • prominent features: 80% of vitamin C RDA (recommended dietary allowance), 32% of RDA for phosphorus, 27% of RDA for iron, 25% of RDA for magnesium, 21% of RDA for vitamin B6, 19% of RDA for thiamine.  It’s also particularly rich in copper and manganese.

—Steve

PS: Nutritional analysis by free software at FitDay.com

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