How to remove potatoes/chips from my diet

[Avelosa]

I am currently in the process of losing around 6 stone, and I'm attempting low-ish carb with high protein/fat etc as that's the only way I have ever been able to get any weight off. I find it easier to cut something out completely rather than to have it in moderation as I can't resist temptation. So far so good, but I just can't resist potato! Most meals I have would normally be served with chips/potatoes in recipe suggestions and in restaurants, but I really need to try and avoid them where possible and I'm struggling with what I can replace them with

Does anyone have any good substitute ideas? Things that would go well with burgers/stews/chicken/chilli etc

Sweet potato, carrot, parsnip? All fairly high carb though. Have got you got an air fryer? I often make air fryer chips which are very low calorie in comparison with regular chips but of course still high carb

Cauliflower mash
Celeriac dauphinois

Have you tried cauliflower rice? I buy frozen sachets from Iceland and Tesco. It's good with anything in a sauce, like chilli, curry etc and can be a base for a salad. Also roasted cauliflower could be a possible substitute for roast potatoes.

@CodenameVillanelle I do have an air fryer, but it’s the carbs I’m trying to cut out so I’m not so worried about the calories

@Veterinari cauliflower mash sounds lovely! Will have to give that a try

@hellojim oooh no I haven’t seen that! I’ve tried broccoli rice and liked that so hopefully I would like that too. Will have a look in Asda tonight and see if I can find any

Swede (turnip for NI and Scotland), mashed, fried, roasted, in casseroles and soups. It is, surprisingly, far lower in carbs than potatoes.

Pulses? I put butter beans in stews and black beans in chilli as well as kidney beans.

Celeriac chips are amazing. You’ll love them even more than potato chips!

Nothing - just put more of the other things on your plate.

Mashed swede makes a great alternative. Try making "chips" or wedges from vegetables oven baking with a oil spray (eg carrots, beetroot, parsnip. Cauliflower rice I don't like but it's a good low cal option. I use whole grain rice and wholemeal pasta as it's more filling and lower gi.

The biggest key is to change your plate make up so non carb veg is 50% minimum of your meal at every meal - too often meals are 50% carbs or more.

For treats like cake I use wholemeal flour and grated courgette, carrot, beetroot etc to add moisture and dried fruit alongside brown sugar to sweeten.

If you're trying to do truly HCLF you just have to ditch and replace with green things.

I can't remember the last time we ate potatoes as we follow the Hay diet..
Usually we just have double portions of veg.
In a meal that often would go with chips - we might use roast parsnips instead. Mash is swapped to a swede/carrot mash, roast pototoes would be roast parsnips, swede, carrot. Potato salad type food we would use cauliflower...
I don't miss it...

You can make your own cauliflower or broccoli rice. Courgetti. Mashed swede or carrot. Cauliflower cheese. Brown rice would be better than chips.

The suggestions I was going to make have already been mentioned above so I will second

• cauliflower rice which is amazing with meals like chili con carne, been stroganoff, tuscan shrimp etc

• courgetti. Invest in a cheap spiraliser and make your own courgette noodles to add to bologneses/stir frys/stews etc. I know not a direct comparator to potato based carbs but a really easy way to cut down the carb count

• courgette/carrot/parsnip fries. I like dipping batons in egg then a mixture of almond flour/herbs/parmesan then baking in the oven for 20-25mins to get nice and crisp. Go v.well will burgers, grilled chicken breasts etc

• cauliflower mash is a great one to top shepherd's pie/cottage pie/fish pie etc

I use the following recipes as bread substitutes. It's a good thing you're not worried about calories as these are all quite high cal owing to the fats in almond flour and cheese

Flatbread chips (nachos)this can also be used as a 'pizza' base which you can top with regular pizza toppings
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1 tbsp cream cheese
1 egg
1/4 cup almond flour (or flaxseed meal, or a combination of the two)
2 garlic cloves (optional)
herbs (optional)

Microwave mozzarella and cream cheese until melted and combined (about 1min).
Add beaten egg, flour, garlic and herbs, stir to combine.
Press out on to a piece of parchment paper.
Bake in oven for 10-15mins at 180C/350F .
Slice into nacho sized chips or top with pizza toppings and pop back in the oven for 5-10mins

Microwave ‘Bread’
3 tbsp almond flour (or flaxseed meal, or a combination)
1/2 tsp baking powder
salt
1 tbsp melted butter
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup parmesan (optional)
1 sp rosemary (optional)
1/2 tsp garlic powder (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a ramekin. Microwave on full power for 90 seconds.

Cheddar scones
3/4 cup almond flour (or flaxseed meal or a combination)
3/4 cup grated cheddar
1 tsp baking powder
1 beaten egg
1 tsp water (optional if dough needs it)
1 tsp paprika or cayenne (optional)

Mix dry ingredients together then add egg/water until dough is formed. Shape into balls.
Bake at 180C/350F for 15 mins

Have you spotted the Low Carb Bootcamp area of Mumsnet? The're a new one starting on Monday. There are some recipe threads and in the first few weeks people often post daily menus so lots of inspiration.

Lots of good ideas here so far though - best one is probably just increasing the quantity of green/ low carb veg. Swede or cauli mash is good in place of mashed potato, celeriac makes good chips, courgetti with bolognese, and I like frozen cauli rice with a curry. Aubergine "boats" to hold a moussaka type lamb mince is a current household favourite.

If eating out, steak or other protein with extra veg or salad in place of chips/potatoes.

Stop buying them. Replace it with other items and in a few weeks you won't even miss them. I promise!

Roasted chickpeas
Bulgur wheat

Salad
Extra veg such as carrots, beans (somehow seems to help if they are chip shaped)
Those packets of "Grains" - quinoa, spelt, lentils etc. Still carb but more wholegrain.

Mash celeriac or swede
Other roasted veg for roast

@AriettyHomily I am doing the complete opposite of HCLF (had to google what that was) as I’m definitely not wanting to increase my carb intake

I have chicken and steamed veg for lunch every day so wanting to add more variety if I can rather than just more steamed veg

@Sairafina those recipes all sound amazing!

I love carrot, swede, parsnip etc but already have a lot of that. Looks like I will have to eat lots more

@Rayna37 I have seen that, but I’m not going quite as extreme as keto so didn’t know if it would be right for me. Will have a better look through when the new one starts

I'm doing the flatbread for dinner tonight, will try and take a photo if I remember!

Bootcamp's not keto, we eat quite a lot of veg and (particularly after the first two weeks) isn't so very low carb as keto. We would limit/avoid carby veg like carrots and parsnips though.

There'll probably be a preparation thread in the next few days with all the "rules" etc which should give you a feel for if it's for you, or just some new tips and ideas maybe if not!