What do you eat instead of pasta / potatoes / rice

[LadyLooLaa]

A while ago I lost a load of weight, then with Covid, stress and general gluttony I have put most of it back on.

I am determined that 2024 is going to be the year of health. So along with being more active I am going to sort out my diet.

I know that I do best when I avoid obvious carbs like pasta, rice and potatoes. I will have these on occasion and in moderation, but need some inspiration for what to have instead of these as an accompaniment to the ‘main’ part of my meal.

I am a pretty good cook so don’t mind a bit of effort but am also a bit overwhelmed at the moment so can’t face anything too onerous.

Oh and I don’t really eat meat. Not sure if that makes a difference.

All and any ideas are gratefully received.

Fish with veg, omelette, roasted veg, stir fry, fajitas with carb lite wraps.

Are you trying to reduce your carbs/calories as if so replacing these things with lentils don’t help.

I think it's more that if you make something containing lentils or beans you don't need a 'white carb' as well and they've got protein and fibre so they're more filling and nutritious.
But yes, veg - if we're having something like a bolognese sauce then we might have a very small amount of pasta and a pile of brocolli and/or cavalero Nero with it.

I do love a big plate of pasta etc but if I’m cooking for myself I’d often do a one bowl meal that doesn’t need a side. So I’d do a bowl of dal or chickpea curry on its own. Or a sort of veg stew involving beans and/or roast sweet potato - I cut up and roast a bag of sweet potatoes and freeze them to add to meals. Bean salad is also nice in the summer.
By the way, I use Epicure brand cannellini beans or East End chickpeas. One reason they taste so much better than supermarket own brands is that they are still in salted water not unsalted!

Bulgar wheat

Edamame bean pasta/spaghetti.

Riced cauliflower instead of pasta with bolognese sauce or similar, green beans (from frozen) or broccoli with stews or meatballs, flat mushrooms (minute or two in the microwave) with omelette / scrambled eggs, inner leaves of cos lettuce instead of bread with pate or soft cheese, plentiful chopped lettuce under burgers instead of burger buns. I ring the changes a bit so as not to repeat the same combo too often while also making sure I don't end up throwing stuff out because I didn't cook it in time.

It doesn't taste the same, but is nice and quite varied - I've been eating that was since the end of August (with potatoes as a Sunday treat) and so far, so good.

Courgettes are very good for thickening a soup.

I've just noticed you don't eat much meat, so that wasn't very helpful. Sorry. Do try the mushrooms though, they're great.

Sweet potato

Aubergine

Swedes

Mushrooms

Quinoa, on the other hand, can get in the bin.

I don't have anything instead but when I check my bs levels cooked and reheated wholemeal pasta and rice don't have any effect on my BS

Restring carbs can cause bowel issues though,

Green beans, cauliflower various way, steamed spinach with pine nuts, cavolo Nero. Im trying to drop carbs too.

Couscous is pasta.

I’ve no interest in doing a keto type diet, I don’t want anything that’s really extreme, so more complex carbs over the basic white stuff is good.
There are so many good ideas here. Very interested in edamame pasta.

I don't think any of the alternatives are anywhere near as nice eg sweet potato is not a patch on potato & Quinoa is awful. I just leave them out or have less. I don't mind lentils in curry or soup but too much & I get sick of them.

Wholewheat pasta is nice with a good source

Or sauce!

Kale "toasted" in the oven is nice if you want something a bit crunchy added to your salad/veg

Cauliflower is totally different if roasted... I could honestly eat the whole flipping head of it 😂 Try with a bit of sesame oil 👍

What temperature and how long, please?

Celeriac is low carb and super easy
To Make into a lovely puree instead of mashed potato

Cauliflower, 'rice' it by blitzing in food processor and then either steam it in the microwave or stir fry with lots of veg and spices etc.

Pulses are great.. chickpeas, butter beans etc.. if your stomach can tolerate them! Mine cant any more.

Squash & pumpkin, sweet potato - mashed as an alternative to mash or just roasted
You can even 'spiralise' them - use them 50/50 With wholemeal Spaghetti

Bread is the trickiest one...!
I just try to cut it out and treat myself
To one or 2 slices of really good quality rye sourdough a week with some scrambled eggs

There are some quite good low carb wrap recipes, but they are a bit of a faff.

Try taking a load of cauliflower courgettes and marinading them in a bit of olive oil with cumin and tumeric.Then roast for 25mins or so - absolutely delicious.

I serve casseroles etc over puy lentils rather than rice.

Bags of diced root veg are often reduced in the supermarkets - these are great steamed and then mashed with pesto which helps cut through the slightly "rooty" taste. You can freeze the cooked mash and defrost in the microwave.

Lentils
Quinoa
Bulgar wheat
Cous Cous
Sweet Potato

I haven't had rice, potatoes or pasta in years. Empty tasteless filler.

Bolognese, chilli, curry by itself or with salad or atop some roasted cauli and broccoli. Zero noodles/rice sometimes or cauli broccoli rice.

Roasts, sausages, steak I do cauli cheese instead of potatoes or a big pan of roasted veg.

Celariac or Swede and carrot for mash when I lived in the UK and could get them!

Spinach noodles? Also spiralised veg such as carrot or courgette can work out quite nice

Sliced and steamed cabbage or spring greens makes a good substitute for spaghetti.