Linda's Diet Delites Blog

Natrol Carb Intercept available

Natrol Carb Intercept with Phase 2 Carb Blockers is now available in 60 capsule and 120 capsule format. From Natrol, “Supports a low-carb lifestyle by controlling carbohydrates found in breads, cereals, rice, pasta and other starch containing foods. Each serving provides 1,000 mg of Phase 2, a clinically tested ingredient that inhibits the enzyme responsible for digesting starch into simple sugars your body can absorb. Our new and improved formula also contains Foodbound Chromium, which provides 40 mcg of Chromium to help metabolize fats and proteins for energy.”

Calbee Snapea Snap Crisps available

Calbee Snapea Snap Crisps are now available. Description from Calbee, “Snapea Crisps originate from high quality sun-dried peas. Using new and unique technology, we created the world’s first easily graspable, snow pea-shaped crisp!

We have come up with a product that is pleasing to the eye, but pleasing to your body as well. In fact, although Snapea Crisps are themselves peas, the product is innovative because it retains all the unique characteristics of the peas and, at the same time, removes the pet peeves traditionally associated with them.

Peas have been an important part of the human diet for approximately 8,000 years. In fact, remains of snow peas dating back to the New Stone Age (or around 4500 B.C.) have been found around a lake in Switzerland…in an Egyptian grave around the time of the pharaohs…and even in the ancient ruins of Troy. Peas have also been widely cultivated along the Mediterranean coast as well as in the area of Mesopotamia, and they continue to be an important agricultural crop influencing different cultures and their eating habits.

This product contains 17% vegetable protein and 8% fiber that come mostly from the skin of the peas. Snapea Crisps contain an abundance of vitamins, iron, and calcium. Snapea Crisps deliver the pea’s natural nutrients in their entirety.

Calbee America produces two flavors of Snapea Crisps; Original and Caesar Flavor. The Original Snapea Crisps has a delicate and tasty flavor of a pea. Caesar Snapea Crisps are lightly seasoned with seasonings that are found in the popular Caesar dressing. Pair either Snapea Crisps Original or Caesar Flavor with your favorite vegetable sticks, dip, or to your salad and enjoy.”

Dining Out On a Low Carb Diet

Dining out when you’re on any diet can be a minefield, and a low carb diet is no exception. Restaurants and fast food joints seem to have their menus filled with deliciously tempting high carb foods which are strictly no-go. It’s all too easy to turn down offers of dinner dates and evenings out with friends because you don’t want to be tempted and fall off the diet wagon. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Yes, there will be a lot of items on the menu that are out of bounds for you, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a fantastically delicious meal and enjoy a night out.

If possible check the restaurant’s website, a lot of restaurants will have their menu on their websites so you can study the menu at your leisure and decide what you can and can’t choose from. If you feel that there really isn’t anything that suits your diet plan you could ring them to see what specials they may be serving up that night.

Some restaurants are going to be less low carb friendly than others, maybe leave the pasta and Indian restaurants until you feel more confident in making the correct diet choices.

A lot of fast food restaurant chains now serve up low carb options; Burger King for instance, will sell their burgers without a bun and provide cutlery for you. Most will happily serve you your food without the bread if you ask, and all will have salad options that you can chose over fries. Remember to stay clear of those sodas and milkshakes though.

Ask for extra vegetables or side salad in place of potatoes, fries or rice with your meal. Your waiter or waitress will be used to special dietary requests and won’t bat an eye.

Do fill up at the salad bar, a lot of restaurant chains have excellent salad bars with a huge amount of choice, although do remember which vegetables your particular diet permits.

If you find the salad choices on the menu a bit bland, why not ask if the kitchen can put a sandwich filling that you like the look of on top of a plain salad for you.

When the bread basket arrives, make sure it’s as far away as possible from you, it’s all too easy to subconsciously start nibbling on something in front of you. Likewise with the breadsticks.

In the unlikely event that a restaurant won’t swap your fries for extra vegetables, you’re bound to find an eager fellow diner in your party who will be more than willing to gain some extra fries in exchange for his broccoli.

You will probably have to forego a dessert unless there’s a sorbet or fruit option. However, you can always reward yourself with a low carb dessert when you get home.

Watch the sauces and salad dressings as these can be laden with hidden carbs. If in doubt take your own low carb dressing and ask for your salad without any dressing.

Consider ordering two starters instead of a main course if the starter menu looks more low carb friendly.

If you’re going around to a friend’s house for dinner warn them in advance of your low carb eating regime so that they can cook you some tasty alternatives.

Above all, have fun. After eating out a few times you’ll become a seasoned professional at picking low carb choices and it will be second nature to you.

5 Top Tips for Starting Your Low Carb Diet Plan

You’ve decided that the extra weight has to go. You’re tired of feeling sluggish and lethargic and want to embark of a low carb diet to get you back into shape and feeling healthy again but you’re not sure how or where to start. Well, here are our top tips in how best to begin your new low carb diet.

1. Research

Read as much information as you can on all the various low carb diet plans that are out there and decide which is the best plan for you and your lifestyle, be it the No White Diet, a Low GI diet, South Beach or Atkins. Once you’ve chosen which plan to go for, go out and buy a copy of the latest book detailing the diet (or borrow one from your local library). Read the entire book, making sure that you fully understand how it works and which foods are allowed and which aren’t before you start.

2. Planning

Pick a week to start where you know that won’t have any social engagements that require you eating out in public. That way you can make your first couple of weeks a lot easier on yourself if you don’t feel obliged to eat banned foods because they have been served to you at a dinner party.

Also, make sure that you are in good health when you start, if you’re feeling run down or unwell then you are more likely to reach for comfort foods or quick fixes than stick to your low carb diet plan. Try to avoid starting a low carb diet at a time when other stressful things are occurring in your life, such as moving house, starting a new job etc., you need to feel as relaxed as possible.

3. Preparation

It makes sense before you undertake any diet plan that your rid your house of any tempting and banned foods that will throw you off course. Sadly this may well mean that your children and spouse have to go without these foods as well until you find your feet, but you’ll be doing them a healthy favor.

Buy in lots of tasty foods that you can eat, your favorite fruits or cooked meats in the fridge are excellent for when you feel like a quick snack.

Draw up a meal planner for your first couple of weeks, this will help you to stick rigidly to the plan and also help when planning your grocery shopping.

Try to limit your carb intake in the week prior to starting your low carb diet plan, reducing the amount of processed carbs for instance, or only eating carbs for breakfast will help your body adapt to your new regime much quicker and easier.

Switch from your regular brands to low carb brands. There are many breads and cereals out there that fit the bill and are surprising tasty.

4. Cut out Caffeine and Alcohol

Both contain carbs (if you take sugar in your tea or coffee) and both can knock you off track. You are more likely to crave carbs if you drink alcohol so try to avoid it whilst you’re trying to get your new eating habits established.

Drinking caffeine can inhibit the weight loss for some low carb dieters.

5. Tell Everyone You Know That You’re on a Low Carb Diet

The more people you have in your corner supporting you the better the chances of success. Not only will they keep your change of diet in mind if they invite you over for dinner, but they won’t tempt and taunt you by eating chocolate cake at the next desk.

Hopefully some of your friends and family will even join you on your quest for a healthy lifestyle and buddy up with you, which is even better.

Udi’s Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns available

Udi’s Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns are now available! From Udi’s, “We’re making BBQs gluten free and delicious! Our soft and savory hotdog buns provide the perfect match for a classic hotdog, Philly Cheesesteak or anything else your heart desires.”

Udi’s Gluten Free Hamburger Buns available

Udi’s Gluten Free Hamburger Buns are now available! 4 light and airy gluten free hamburger buns reminiscent of a classic Pepperidge Farms hamburger bun complete with floured bottom.

From Udi’s, “Grilling in the backyard has never tasted so good – and it’s gluten free! Our soft, golden buns accompany your much-loved ingredients, be it a classic burger or a savory deli sandwich.”

HealthSmart Foods ChocoRite available

HealthSmart Foods ChocoRite Chocolate Bark and ChocoRite Chocolate Bars are now available in a variety of flavors. From Healthsmart Foods, “ChocoRite NO MALTITOL Candies – Introducing a delicious new innovative sugar-free chocolate with absolutely zero Maltitol which will not stall weight loss even for the most sensitive person! Sweetened exclusively with Erythritol and Sucralose, both of which have a glycemic index of ZERO. Finally, great taste and only ZERO glycemic sweeteners combine for effective low carb weight loss.”