Low Carb Diets/dietitian Recommendations?

Updated on June 16, 2008
J.M. asks from Minneapolis, MN
6 answers

We just found out that my husband has high triglycerides (500 range), and after visiting the doctor today who put him on meds (and told him to exercise more), we are seeking low-carb ideas for a busy family on a tight budget. The doctor mentioned a Mediterranean diet or diabetic diet, and I'm sure there are a million books out there, but I'd be interested in tips on helping us make the transition to quick and healthy food for us and our kids. Are we stuck eating salads for every meal?? A friend said we should see a dietitian to help us get started. Does health insurance normally cover this? Any recommendations of ones near Plymouth?

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D.S.

answers from Omaha on

Well, you have to be careful since most low carb diets are really high in fat. Since they dont allow much sugar or bread, you end up eating things like lots of red meat and cheese, which are bad for cholestrol. Try the south beach diet I heard that was a heart friendly version of a low carb diet. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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P.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

Stick to the protein foods. They are a good substitute for all the carb foods, like pasta's, potato's and rice.

More steaks, fish and seafoods (crab, Scallops, Shrimp, etc) Especially the fish and seafoods. They are filling, rich and soooo good for you so he'll feel more satisfied after eating fish, etc...than a salad or some other filler food. Fish and shellfish can be cooked soo many ways so that it won't get boring. It all can taste so different and cooking it differently can make it taste different too. Fry it, Bake it, Grill it, Smother it with sauce, smoke it, Saute it, marinade it, sqewer it...it's all good. It cooks up fast. Baking it usually takes the longest and even then...a 1/2 hour isn't very long, even for baked crab legs. Plus, it's fun to eat seafood...my daughter LOVES seafood, especially crab, lobster and mild fish like Walleye. (BTW: Salmon is the most fishy of fish...best smoked, baked or grilled to hide the fishiness...and even then...fishy. A cheeper fish though so a good one to experiment with. I'd recommend covering it with a barnaise sauce.)

Good luck.

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J.G.

answers from Milwaukee on

Hi J.,

I see that you have a lot of great responses to your request.

I don't know if this would be anything you guys would be interested in but, the company I buy most of my "healthy alternative products" from has a website that they created for only $6.00 a month. They took into consideration that most people want to get healthy and change their lifestyles, but don't know where to start. The program that they came out with, is pretty awesome if I might say so myself. It does everything from putting together a menu and even a grocery list for the week or month! Your hubby can enter his health concerns, statistics, measurements, etc. and then it puts together a menu / program for him. He enters his food intake and exercise and the program counts his carbs in-take for him so that he doesn't have to. It will also put together a menu for the family meals so that you don't have to even think about that.
It is so cool. They have recipes, it tells you which foods are "free foods" which means he can eat them and they don't count.

I learned a lot about my eating habits! That's the one thing that was the eye opener!

As far as your hubby's triglyceride levels. That is high. But there are alternatives out there!. Also with proper food int ake and excerise those can be lowered too. My husband has been using a wonderful product for his blood pressure & cholesterol and triglycerides and his twin sister has been too. They are doing great.

If you guys want to learn more, please let me know. I live right in Saukville, and have family up in Plymouth.

I would be happy to share the info with you and your hubby so you know what's available and then you be the judge.

Let me know,
J.

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L.B.

answers from Sioux Falls on

I can understand where you are coming from on this, when I was pregnant, I was put on a low carb diet. Its not easy, but it can be cheap. The way I did it was to look at the labels, 15 grams is one carb. My diet consisted of 2 carbs at breakfast, 1-2 for snack, 3-4 at lunch, 1-2 snack, 3-4 supper, and 1 at snack. I ate lots of veggies, like broccoli and cauliflower, some have carbs, so watch that too, but for sure broccoli and cauliflower is so low its a free food. A good book on Calorie counting is a plus on dieting, it usually has the carb counts too. Sara Lee's 45 calorie and Delightful has 9 grams per slice, 18 for 2, so 2 slices is one carb count. Check if the bread thrift store has them, thats were I get mine.

Since it is summer now, and if your hubby loves potato salad, substitute Cauliflower, fresh or frozen, in for the potatoes. You cant tell that it isnt potatoes at all. Follow your recipe the same other wise, well limit the sugar if you use that.

Instead of getting the books, look online for the websites for the atkins diet, or others, or go to the library to look at the books, no need to buy one, except a calorie counter book (they also have ones with all the restraunts that are popular). Good Luck!

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K.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi J.,

1) I would suggest seeking out a Registered Dietitican. They can be spotted as having RD credentials behind their name. Example: Jane Doe, RD (may also have LD, LN, MS, MPH, or FADA behind their name as well but must have RD) He/She can help your family decide how to make better food choices that you'll enjoy and may be able to keep up for a long period of time - hopefully forever.

2) The low carb diet is defined as follows, and I don't think it'll necessarily help you husband. Take all the food you eat in a day, let's say 65% is carbs, 20% is protein, and 15% is fat. Low carb would change that so your carb intake is 40%, 40% is protein, and 20% is fat. The point is, if carbs go out, something else goes in - either protein or fat. Protein is most often consumed as meat, which has fat in it as well and would increase fat consumption. Increasing fat intake would seem illogical given your husband's high triglycerides aready.

I know these aren't meal ideas, but knowing where you stand and where to get help is a good first step to helping your husband's hyperlipidemia.

Good luck!

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D.K.

answers from Milwaukee on

Do the South Beach Diet.

Read about it, check out the recipes and be committed. Get rid of all of your carbs and just do it!

We did it and it works.

The first three to four days are hard but after that you will be THRILLED with the results. Also, we have a 4 year old son and he's happy with his food selection as well.

Eat healthy and EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE!!!!!

Good Luck!

D.

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