Quick Foods

Ok, most of the things you need to eat on this diet take a little forethought, but there are some exceptions.  Also, there are some things that I've found work on the strict diet that probably shouldn't.  I was very strict at first, though,  and then I experimented, one thing at a time, once I wasn't in as much pain anymore.  I would suggest that strategy.  Then you know what affects you and what doesn't.

There are some things that I do for a quick meal (with the strict diet in mind):

-Boar's Head cold cuts don't have fillers in them.  And a lot of them don't have sugars in them.  There is usually a brochure at the deli, so you can see what is in them.  Sometimes, I just put some Boar's Head roast beef, or whatever, in a ziplock, and there's my lunch.

-Stouffer's Spinach Souffle is the only frozen meal that I've found that works on the strict diet.  I've found a few things, but very few, that work on the liberal diet (meaning, if you aren't needing to lose weight), and I will sometimes eat those.  I'll post those another day.

-Protein Shake:  I guess, strictly speaking, this shouldn't count on the strict diet, but it's never slowed down my weight loss, so I include it.  Everyone is different:
*1/2 cup of sugar-free vanilla ice cream (the Carb Smart kind is awful, though; I buy Dreyer's)
*A tablespoon of sugar-free almond butter (because I don't like peanut butter, but if you want peanut butter, make sure it is sugar-free)
*a cup or so (I don't measure) of cream.
Blend.  Drink.  Mmmm.

-Zone Bars.  Okay, I only use these in an emergency, but they are balanced well and have saved me from a hypoglycemic crash many times.  Some bars out there have a ton of sugar, so you can't just eat any protein bar.

-Ricotta cheese with cinnamon or nutmeg and Splenda.

-Pre-cooked, microwavable bacon.  It's not as good as regular bacon, but it is good in a rush, especially in the morning before work.  Incidentally, some bacons have a lot of sugar.  I try to buy the kinds that don't- hard to find- but, I also find that it seems to cook off, or at least it doesn't affect me.

-Blue Cheese salad (originally, this was an appetizer recipe with everything on endive leaves, but the fast version is to make a salad):
*Romaine lettuce
*Blue cheese crumbles
*Walnuts
*Dried cranberries (not on the strict diet, so you can leave them out)
*Balsamic vinegar, reduced (I often won't even reduce it- it's better when it is, but I don't always have the time or energy for it).

-Boar's Head Salad:
*Romaine Lettuce
*Your favorite Boar's Head meat, cut up into small pieces
*Your favorite allowed dressing (or just olive oil, or oil and vinegar).

-Cheeseburger (sans bun):
*Burger
*Cheese
*Sugar-free ketchup (it's out there)
*Homemade or sugar-free mayo (I'll give the recipe for homemade one of these days).
*Sugar-free bread-and-butter pickles
Obviously, you can vary it however you want.

Ok, so that's a start.   I'm sure I'm missing things.   I will try to post at least something every other day during the summer (since I have more time).   I'd like to get a good "recipe book" on here eventually.