Low-carb, less-fat dinners:
These delicious weeknight dinners are all carbohydrate- and fat-restricted – so they’re healthy, nutritious and a great way to control your weight.
delicious meals that are kind to the waistline yet please the palate
Asevere restriction on carb intake is not advocated by most health professionals, but the reduction of energy-dense, nutrition-poor carbs is. These recipes reduce carbohydrate intake with a focus on using the best-quality foods, rather than cutting out carbs altogether – and this means staying away from highly processed grains, such as rice and pasta, and foods high in saturated fats and added sugars – which adds up to a healthier way of eating.
What are carbs?
Carbs, or carbohydrates, are macronutrients the body needs to function properly; the main macronutrients the body needs are carbohydrates, protein and fats. Important sources of carbohydrates are grains, vegetables and fruits (plant foods). As well as providing energy in the form of glucose (needed to fuel the body’s organs, tissues, brain and muscles), carbohydrates also assist in the absorption of calcium, necessary for good bone health, and help to deliver good intestinal bacteria.
Some carbohydrates break down quickly into glucose (simple sugars such as sweets, fizzy drinks, processed foods and some fruit), while others take longer (complex carbs, such as grains and most vegies).
Why go low carb?
By lowering the amount of carbohydrates available to your body, it is forced to burn more fat. Carbohydrates break down into glucose, which fuels your body. If no glucose is available, your body starts to burn your fat stores. One major benefit of a low-carb diet is that it cuts out highly processed foods – those carbs with little or no nutritional value. Switching to more nutritious, wholesome foods helps keep blood glucose levels under control and reduces the amount of insulin your body needs to produce.