Tips for Navigating a Carb Attack

March 13, 2010 6:05 pm

Almost everyone gets a carb attack now and again, that intense craving for nothing but high-carbohydrate foods. This particularly happens to those who follow strict low-carb diets, which is why they don't work. Your body revolts and it ends up craving even more what you "can't" have. The human body is meant to run on carbs, protein and other essential nutrients and cutting out starches completely is unrealistic and unhealthy. I know many of you are afraid of even the thought of allowing a crumb of bread pass your lips. If you have followed a low-carb diet before, you know that they do work—for awhile. You shed so many pounds at first, feel great, less bloated and you have tons of energy. But then you become miserable. You want to partake in the bread basket at the restaurant and you are tired of eating your over-easy eggs without an English muffin for dipping. One incident leads to the next and you end up gorging. When it comes to carbs you can never ask the question "to be or not to be?" The question is how much and which ones.

You can still have carbs and lose weight. Instead of the processed, starchy variety, choose a healthier options like whole grain breads and pastas, brown rice and quinoa. Tip: Quinoa, is one of the best, most versatile of grains. You can use it in virtually everything. You can cook it up and use it as a side dish with your chicken in place of couscous. You can eat it for breakfast in place of hot cereal and add some fruit or yogurt. You can grind it up and use it for flour in your baked goods. You can also eat sandwiches but try flour-less bread and use lean meats such roast turkey and substitute spinach leaves and mustard for rich mayonnaise.

Another Trick: Use barley instead of rice for risotto. Barley is an excellent source of fiber and extremely filling. The starch in the barley becomes creamy when slow-cooked just like rice. Make these modifications the next time you have a carb attack and you won't be afraid to hit the scale the next morning.

Photo credit: mymansbelly.com

� Written by Jennifer Ambrose

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Tags : quinoa, barley, brown rice, healty carbs, low-carb diet myths, Jennifer Ambrose, Behind the Burner