Low Carbohydrate & Smart Carb Dieting

Lemon-Tarragon Chicken Salad, 6 carb grams

Lemon-Tarragon Chicken Salad in Butter Lettuce Cups
From South Beach Diet

Phase 1

Makes 6 servings

Creamy lemon dressing adds a refreshing kick to this chicken salad. Select the sturdy inside leaves of the lettuce head to hold the salad. Each leaf should hold about one cup of chicken salad. Serve immediately after filling the lettuce cups.

4 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed (about 1 pound)
1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons thinly minced red onion
2-3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon
Salt
6 leaves butter lettuce

1. Trim excess fat and skin from chicken. Place chicken and 4 cups of water in medium Dutch oven or heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer; cook 10 minutes, or until chicken is just cooked. Transfer chicken to bowl. Let chicken cool, and slice into 1-inch strips.

2. Bring water to a boil in medium saucepan over high heat. Add asparagus and cook, 3 minutes, until tender-crisp. Drain and rinse with cold water. Slice diagonally into 1/2-inch pieces.

3. In medium bowl, combine yogurt, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Add chicken strips, asparagus, celery, onion, and tarragon. Season with salt to taste and add one scoop of mixture to each lettuce leaf.

Per serving:
235 calories
24 g protein
9 g carbohydrate
3 g fiber
11 g total fat
2 g saturated fat
64 mg cholesterol
249 mg sodium

Low Carb Melas. Roasted Lamb with Garlic

Roasted Rack of Lamb with Garlic Sauce - Low Carb

Roasted rack of New Zealand lamb in a deep brown garlic sauce made with white wine and shallots complemented by mashed turnips with bacon and a blend of yellow and green beans.

Net Carbs: 10g
Net Wt: 15 oz

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We create great Low Carb recipes - everything from soups and appetizers to complete meals and desserts. Then, using only the finest ingredients, we prepare everything, with skill, know-how, and artistry, just for you. We do all the time-consuming things. We shop and we chop. We mix, blend, and sauté. We grill the steaks, roast the lamb, poach the salmon. All you need to do is follow the simple instructions to heat and serve our meals in about 10 minutes. It's that easy. Home Bistro

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Hot Dogs and Peppers for Memorial Day

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Potato-Rosemary-Crusted Fish Fillets

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Tahini Zone Cake Recipe

Tahini: The Healthier Fat
From the Zone Diet

Dr. Sears is careful to recommend only the healthiest fat sources, avoiding foods with trans fats or those high in cholesterol. You may have noticed "tahini" on his list of favorable fats -- if you haven't tried this paste, which is made from sesame seeds, you're in for a treat!

Common in Middle Eastern cuisine, tahini is the major ingredient in hummus. It is sold in a jar and has a long life in the fridge. Best of all, it is nutrient-dense, delivering vitamin E and protein. Some manufacturers even offer flavored tahini. Lemon, cracked-pepper, and garlic flavors are all fine, but check the label. You'll want to steer clear of brands that mix in high-fat ingredients.

To get you started on tahini, try this recipe as a savory alternative to basic pancakes:

Tahini Zone Cakes
Yield: 6 or 7 cakes

Ingredients
1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1/4 cup egg substitute or 2 egg whites
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup oatmeal
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Toppings
1/2 cup blueberries (mashed) or 1/3 cup apple sauce

Instructions
In a food processor or with a hand mixer, blend cottage cheese, egg substitute, water, vanilla, and tahini until smooth. Add oatmeal and baking powder, and pulse (or stir by hand) until incorporated. Batter will be thin at first, but will thicken if left to stand.

Cook on a 350-degree griddle or very hot pan (both will need a light coating of oil spray) on stove top. Transfer to plate when ready and add topping.

Low Carb 1600 Calories a day plan

Enjoy delicious low carb food without the hassle. We'll cook the food, you'll lose the weight. Find out how!

Freshly prepared, delicious, and nutritionally balanced meals.

...with Diet to Go there is no portioning, rationing, counting calories or carbohydrates. We build the perfect meal plan customized for you. You just enjoy the food prepared for you by your personal chef.

Unlike other diets that require expensive supplements or foods. Diet to Go provides all your food delivered right to your door.

We have served over 385,000 meals since 1995 to thousands of happy consumers.

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Low Carb 1600 Calories a day plan

Breakfast
Western Omelet with Fajita Veggies
Sausage Links

Lunch
Baked Turkey Cutlet in Curry Sauce
Onions & Peppers
Cauliflower

Dinner
Crab-Stuffed Flounder
Dill Sauce
Cauliflower
Green Beans
Creamed Spinach

Tuna and Spinach Salad With Yogurt-Dill Dressing

A Fix for Canned Tuna
From the Zone Diet

Many people associate canned tuna solely with tuna fish sandwiches. But in the Zone canned tuna is a pantry staple that can be dressed up for elegant salads, providing the protein portion of your meal at an extremely reasonable cost. When buying canned tuna, be sure to choose "water-packed" instead of "oil-packed." Some companies also sell tuna marinated in pouches -- Starkist, for instance, offers tasty hickory-smoked and garlic-and-herb tunas. These are a good option, too.

To help you break out of the tuna fish sandwich mold, try this delicious salad -- and serve it with a Melon-Berry Cooler to complete your Zone meal:

Tuna and Spinach Salad With Yogurt-Dill Dressing and Melon-Berry Cooler

Prep: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 meals

Ingredients

Yogurt-Dill Dressing
1 cup organic low-fat yogurt
1/3 cup Nayonnaise (soy-based sandwich spread)
4 teaspoons fructose powder
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh dill weed or 1/3 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon finely ground white or black pepper
Finely ground sea salt (to taste)

Tuna and Spinach Salad
10 cups baby spinach, washed, spun dry
2 medium-size Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced or diced
1 cup bottled artichoke hearts, drained
2 cups English cucumber, peeled, quartered, thinly sliced
1 cup minced scallions (green onions)
12 ounces water packed, no-salt tuna, drained
18 lightly toasted walnut halves, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup capers, rinsed and chopped (optional)

Melon-Berry Cooler
2/3 cup apple juice
3 cups cubed honeydew or cantaloupe melon
1 1/4 cups fresh, rinsed and drained, or thawed frozen blueberries
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 ice cubes

Instructions
1. Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or wide-mouth16-ounce jar and whisk or shake well.

2. Layer and divide the salad ingredients among 4 large dinner plates or in 4 (1-quart) bowls with snap-on lids for pack lunches. Toss with dressing just before serving.

3. Combine the Melon-Berry Cooler ingredients in a blender. Cover and process until smooth, then pour into 4 tall glasses or chill in Thermo bottles for meals to go.

5 Carb Grams Chicken Recipe

Chicken Soup With Lime

From Sonoma Diet

Give your usual chicken noodle soup a Mexican-inspired makeover for a taste that's muy caliente!

START TO FINISH: 30 minutes MAKES: 4 servings

12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces Kosher salt (optional)
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 1/2 teaspoons minced)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon hot chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, crushed, or 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
2 14-ounce cans chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 large tomato, chopped
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

If desired, season chicken with kosher salt and black pepper. In a Dutch oven, cook chicken and garlic in hot oil over medium-high heat until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in chili powder, cumin seeds, and, if desired, crushed red pepper. Cook and stir for 30 seconds. Stir in chicken broth and green onions. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in tomato, lime juice, and cilantro.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 178 cal., 8 g total fat (1 g sat. fat), 45 mg chol., 719 mg sodium, 6 g carbo., 1 g fiber, 21 g pro.

Salmon with Pesto Mayo, 5 carb grams

Makes 4 servings
Start to Finish: 20 minutes

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

4 5- to 6-ounce skinless, boneless fresh or frozen salmon fillets

2 tablespoons crumbled firm-textured bread

1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

3 tablespoons purchased basil pesto

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Thaw fish, if frozen. Preheat broiler. Place the bread crumbs in a shallow baking pan. Broil 4 inches from heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring once. Set bread crumbs aside.

2. Measure thickness of fish. Place fish on the greased unheated rack of broiler pan, tucking under any thin edges. Broil 4 inches from heat for 4 to 6 minutes per 1/2-inch thickness or until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork. Turn over 1-inch-thick fillets halfway through broiling.

3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together mayonnaise and pesto; set aside. Combine toasted bread crumbs and cheese. Spoon mayonnaise mixture over fillets. Sprinkle with crumb mixture. Broil 1 to 2 minutes more or until crumbs are lightly browned. Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition facts per serving:
calories: 363
total fat: 24g
saturated fat: 3g
cholesterol: 84mg
sodium: 309mg
carbohydrate: 5g
fiber: 0g
protein: 31g
vitamin A: 6%
calcium: 4%
iron: 7%

Low Carb Wraps: Waldorf salad-style wrap

Healthy Homemade Wraps

Wraps -- meats and veggies wrapped in a tortilla -- have almost replaced sandwiches as America's most popular lunch food. While many of the wraps found in delis and fast-food restaurants are made with healthy-sounding ingredients, most are not Zone Diet friendly. Tortillas contain unfavorable carbs, and wrap fillings are often high in fat.

You can easily make wraps at home that are in the Zone Diet by skipping the tortilla altogether and using a large cabbage leaf in its place. Here's what to do: Lay the leaf on a cutting board and then stuff it with the filling of your choice. For example, a Zone -balanced, Waldorf salad-style wrap might include 1/4 cup of chopped grapes, 1/4 chopped apple and a handful of salad greens tossed with 1/3 teaspoon olive oil and vinegar, as well as salt and pepper to taste. Add 1 1/2 ounces of shredded turkey, chicken, or ham, then close the leaf, securing with a toothpick. Feel free to substitute with the fruits, veggies and protein of your choice, either tossing with olive oil or sprinkling nuts into the mix to keep your wrap Zone -balanced.