Among the types of diets that many people observe when they want to lose weight are those that fall under the umbrella term that is the low in carbohydrates. With a low-carb meal plan, carbohydrate intake is lowered, primarily by limiting the consumption of grains, starchy vegetables, and fruits.
Why Go Low for Carbs?
While other diets involve the tedious task of counting calories, a low-carb meal plan is instead focused on food that is high in protein and fat. Since carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy, lowering its intake must involve planning to ensure that the body will still have energy for the rest of the day.
Another purpose for people to observe a low-carb diet is to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. It is still ideal that you consult first with a nutritionist or doctor. They will make an individual assessment based on your health, body type, and food intake prior to adopting a low-carb diet. Consider the following to determine if the meal plan below works within your dietary parameters.
Designing a low-carb meal plan generally limits grains, legumes, fruits, breads, sweets, pastas, and starchy vegetables. There are times that nuts and seeds are also avoided. Some low-carb meal plans, however, allow small amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
In a typical low-carb meal plan, there is a daily limit of 0.7 to 2 ounces (20 to 57 grams) of carbohydrates. These amounts of carbohydrates provide 80 to 240 calories.
Low-Carb Meal Plan: What One Week Looks Like
This is a sample low-carb meal plan for one week that provides less than 50 grams of total carbs per day. However, if you are healthy and active, you can go beyond that.
Monday
Breakfast – Omelet with various vegetables, fried in butter or coconut oil
Lunch – Grass-fed yogurt with blueberries and a handful of almonds
Dinner – Cheeseburger (no bun), served with vegetables and salsa sauce
Tuesday
Breakfast – Bacon and eggs
Lunch – Leftover burgers and veggies from the night before
Dinner – Salmon with butter and vegetables
Wednesday
Breakfast – Eggs and vegetables, fried in butter or coconut oil
Lunch – Shrimp salad with some olive oil
Dinner – Grilled chicken with vegetables
Thursday
Breakfast – Omelet with various vegetables, fried in butter or coconut oil
Lunch – Smoothie with coconut milk, berries, almonds, and protein powder
Dinner – Steak and veggies
Friday
Breakfast – Bacon and eggs
Lunch – Chicken salad with some olive oil
Dinner – Pork chops with vegetables
Saturday
Breakfast – Omelet with various veggies
Lunch – Grass-fed yogurt with berries, coconut flakes and a handful of walnuts
Dinner – Meatballs with vegetables
Sunday
Breakfast – Bacon and eggs
Lunch – Smoothie with coconut milk, a bit of heavy cream, chocolate-flavored protein powder and berries
Dinner – Grilled chicken wings with some raw spinach (salad) on the side
A cursory review of the meal options above reveals a lot of bacon and eggs for breakfast while meat and fish are prevalent at dinner. There is no rice, potatoes, or bread though, with vegetables taking their place instead to go with your main dish.
When eating out at a restaurant, a low-carb meal plan can still be something you can follow. Make sure your main dish is meat or fish-based, ask that your food be fried in real butter, and instead of bread, potatoes, or rice, get extra vegetables instead.
Low-Carb Meal Plan to Battle Diabetes
Some low-carb diets greatly restrict carbs during the initial phase of the diet and then gradually increase the number of allowed carbs. For those adapting a low-carb diet to combat diabetes, you might want to consider counting the carbohydrates you consume. After all, foods with carbs affect your blood glucose more than anything else you eat.
Diabetics should figure out how many grams of carbs are in a meal then base their dose of insulin on that amount. To start, keep track of your meals and check your blood sugar before you eat. Then check it again in about two hours to see how different foods affect you. This can help you determine the right amount of carbs for you.
A low-carb meal plan can prove to be effective if you are serious about losing weight and wish to maintain your energy throughout the day. Knowledge of what food to avoid can go a long way in insuring your diet’s success.
Learn more about Healthy Eating here.
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