Eat carbs and still lose weight? Yes, please!

Ever since diet culture became all the rage, carbs, have had to take the brunt, among all other food groups. Carbs have hard their fair share of becoming enemy number one, and there has been a time when dieter’s have been told to stay away from this food group lest take on the risk of gaining weight. But more often than not, that stigma comes from really unfounded claims.

You don’t gain weight because of carbs, you gain weight from eating at a calorie surplus (a.k.a eating more calories than your body needs). Even if you stick to vegetables and protein, it’s still possible to gain weight and this is especially true if you’re insulin resistant.

So, where do these claims come from? Well, brands need to make money don’t they? All they need to do is hold a negative campaign against carbs, market their products as “low-carb” and wait for it to sell like hotcakes.

But here at DishQuo, we don’t believe in eliminating food groups! Our diabetic meal plans are all about taking your favorite foods’ glycemic index into consideration when planning out your food for the week. In fact, here are some low-GI carbs that you can enjoy throughout the week and still lose weight!

Rolled or steel-cut oats

One of the most versatile and healthiest carbs you can enjoy are good ol’ oats. They’re high in fiber, protein, and rich in antioxidants. Oatmeal is also proven to support heart health, lower cholesterol levels, and improve blood sugar control. Just make sure that you get rolled or steel-cut oats because they’re the least processed variety!

Here’s a little recipe for you to enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Ingredients:

• ½ Cup Rolled Oats
• ½ Cup Diced Apple
• 2 Cups Unsweetened Almond Milk
• 1 tbsp Peanut Butter
• 1 tsp Stevia
• 1 tsp Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Add almond milk and diced apples into a pot and wait for it to boil
2. Add the oats, stir, and wait till they’re in the consistency that you want
3. Add stevia and cinnamon
4. Top with peanut butter
5. Enjoy your healthy Apple Cinnamon Oats

Lentil Pasta

Yup, you can still enjoy your favorite pasta dishes with the DishQuo meal plan app! Lentil pastas are healthy for you because they’re made from powdered lentils and beans and they contain twice the protein, and four times the fiber of regular pasta! They’re also gluten-free and taste just like the pasta you know and love. So, the next time you crave spaghetti and meatballs, you can enjoy it guilt-free!

Here’s a Lentil pasta dish you can enjoy!

Lentil Spaghetti Meatball Pasta

Ingredients:

• 80g Dry Lentil Pasta
• ¼ kg beef
• ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
• ¼ cup parmesan
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Kosher salt
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ cup opinion, finely chopped
• 1 (28-oz) an crushed tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook lentil spaghetti according to package and drain.
2. In a large bowl, combine beef, parsley, parmesan, egg, garlic, 1 tsp salt and red pepper flakes. Mix until just combined then form into balls.
3. In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add meatballs and cook until browned on all sides. Transfer meatballs to a plate.
4. Add onion to pot and cook until soft. Add crushed tomatoes and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Return meatballs to pot and cover. Simmer until the sauce has thickened.
5. Serve pasta with a healthy scoop of meatballs and sauce. Top with Parmesan and enjoy!

Sourdough Bread

If you love a good bread for breakfast, you don’t have to worry because you can still enjoy a low carb variety! Sourdough breads are a healthier alternative to white or whole wheat bread because they contain lower phytate, which makes it easier to digest. They’re also completely sugar-free and the long fermentation process allows it to release nutrients like iron, zinc, antioxidants, folic acids, and other nutrients.

Here’s one way to enjoy your Sourdough bread!

Sourdough Avocado Toast
Ingredients:

• ½ small avocado
• ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 slice sourdough bread
• ½ teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• Red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine avocado, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Gently mash with a fork.
2. Top toasted bread with the mashed avocado mix. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle over desired toppings such as fresh tomato.
3. Enjoy your Sourdough Avocado Toast

Non-starchy Vegetables

Your mom’s right! Eat your veggies! Non-starchy vegetables are important to have in every diet because they contain a lot of vitamins and nutrition and are low in calories. If you’re a volume eater, then load up on your veggies!

Here are some examples of non-starchy veggies you can enjoy!

• Artichoke/hearts
• Asparagus
• Beets
• Brussel Sprouts
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Eggplant
• Mushroom
• Chickpeas
• Cucumber
• Zucchini

So, pre-register to DishQuo today!