Anonymous
10/21/2013 15:59
Subject: Re:Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
I am also in this boat!
I make a lot of pasta- or rice-optional dishes. Stir fries and curries. Roasted veggies and a protein (tofu or meat, if it's a meat day).
DH is not above making himself salad with tuna on top of it while DD and I eat spaghetti though.
I make a lot of pasta- or rice-optional dishes. Stir fries and curries. Roasted veggies and a protein (tofu or meat, if it's a meat day).
DH is not above making himself salad with tuna on top of it while DD and I eat spaghetti though.
Anonymous
10/21/2013 15:39
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
15:03: OP said DH was cutting carbs, not allergic to them. I cut carbs by doing exactly what I suggested: changing pasta dishes from 90% pasta, 8% protein, and 2% veggie to more like 40% pasta, 40% veggie, and 20% protein. It's made a big difference in my health and I think frankly tastes better. It has the side benefit of allowing OP to stick with 90% pasta if she wants, without cooking two dishes.
Anonymous
10/21/2013 15:36
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
Anonymous wrote:I think it would be pretty passive aggressive to serve a spouse "a small serving of pasta" rather than honoring their wishes to avoid them for health reasons. Or is the not so subtle message, "homey, I'm glad the life insurance is paid up. Eat some more food we know makes you sick."
She said low-carb. Some people on low-carb diets do eat some carbs. This is exactly how DH and I operated when I had to count carbs because of gestational diabetes and it worked really well for us.
Anonymous
10/21/2013 15:22
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
You need to change your way of thinking with meals. The veggie is the main item on the plate, then comes the protein and then a whole grain (which DH can really skip).
Anonymous
10/21/2013 15:03
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
I think it would be pretty passive aggressive to serve a spouse "a small serving of pasta" rather than honoring their wishes to avoid them for health reasons. Or is the not so subtle message, "homey, I'm glad the life insurance is paid up. Eat some more food we know makes you sick."
Anonymous
10/21/2013 15:00
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
Anonymous wrote:I love carbs and I don't need to lose weight. DH has some pounds to lose and is following a mostly low-carb diet. We have a toddler.
My go-to meals tend to be one-dish meals containing carbs, veggies and proteins. I love casseroles, asian noodle stir-fries, bean dishes, pastas. I am having such a hard time menu planning with DH's diet in mind. Our best options tend to be things like grilled chicken, grilled fish, shrimp stir fry (no rice for DH), all with veggies and grains on the side (I will steam some broccoli, cook some quinoa or whole wheat cous cous). These things just don't excite me and I am bored. Please give me suggestions on what to make. DH is being really cool and saying I should just make what I want and he will defrost some chili/roasted chicken on nights that our meal isn't right for him, but that just feels wrong to me. There has to be a way to find a happy medium.
There are good suggestions already, but one thing that's been missed is that you can keep serving a lot of the same dishes but just shift the ratios towards vegetables.
For example, stir fry a whole lot of extra veggies for your stir fried noodles. Then, pull most of the noodles into your bowl and serve the remainder of the pot (now a few noodles and tons of vegetables) to DH.
Or suppose you like pasta with sausage and peppers. Make a big pot of sausage, peppers, and sauce. Plate your pasta like normal. Give DH a small pinch of pasta and then a few heaping spoonfuls of peppers. Etc.
I think you'll save time and be less annoyed by the inconveniece his diet causes if you don't feel like you need to either give up your favorite dishes or cook two meals at once.
Anonymous
10/21/2013 14:19
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
Thanks again. I appreciate the suggestions.
Anonymous
10/18/2013 13:09
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
I'm in a similar boat. We do a lot of salads with grilled chicken and I will have a slice or two of really good bread with butter on the side. Or, DH will have an entree salad and I'll have a side salad and toss the chicken with a little pasta and sauce.
Anonymous
10/18/2013 11:48
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
I could have written this myself! I love pasta & potatoes but DH has gone paleo :/ These are some dishes that don't bum me out and make him happy:
I really like cauliflower based "pizza" - it's basically all veggies.
We've found that coconut based curries go well with squash and tomato based curries go well with eggplant instead of rice.
Taco salad is awesome - whatever greens you have + beef cooked with taco seasoning + beets + black beans
I really like cauliflower based "pizza" - it's basically all veggies.
We've found that coconut based curries go well with squash and tomato based curries go well with eggplant instead of rice.
Taco salad is awesome - whatever greens you have + beef cooked with taco seasoning + beets + black beans
Anonymous
10/18/2013 11:48
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
I was in the same boat, with a husband off carbs and a son who needed them. What I did was have the carb on the side - so chicken stir fry for everyone, over rice for me and son. Or chili for all, with a roll for me and son. In the months since, DH has added carbs and I've removed them, so now we are flipped, but same plan works.
Anonymous
10/18/2013 11:27
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
Thanks, all. I appreciate the ideas and advice.
Anonymous
10/17/2013 13:02
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
Anonymous wrote:We are grain free but DS still eats rice and pasta once in a while. What works for us is to make things like chili, veggie rich red sauce, stroganoff and other things that have a ton of veggies in them. We can serve them over wilted greens, zuchini "zoodles" or rice/pasta for the boy.
When we make roasted chicken, no one notices that there are no grains on the tables.
I do a lot of this over spaghetti squash to still get the pasta feel.
Anonymous
10/17/2013 12:56
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
We do lots of grilled kebabs with different marinades, meats and vegetables. Rice or pasta on the side for my husband and son. We also substitute healthier carbs in lots of cases - squash or sweet potatoes versus regular potatoes or rice.
For vegetable or chicken soups, I will cook any rice, pasta or corn separately and those who want to mix those in can do it at the table.
For vegetable or chicken soups, I will cook any rice, pasta or corn separately and those who want to mix those in can do it at the table.
Anonymous
10/17/2013 12:50
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
We are grain free but DS still eats rice and pasta once in a while. What works for us is to make things like chili, veggie rich red sauce, stroganoff and other things that have a ton of veggies in them. We can serve them over wilted greens, zuchini "zoodles" or rice/pasta for the boy.
When we make roasted chicken, no one notices that there are no grains on the tables.
When we make roasted chicken, no one notices that there are no grains on the tables.
Anonymous
10/17/2013 12:46
Subject: Carb-lover cooking for a low-carb spouse
I love carbs and I don't need to lose weight. DH has some pounds to lose and is following a mostly low-carb diet. We have a toddler.
My go-to meals tend to be one-dish meals containing carbs, veggies and proteins. I love casseroles, asian noodle stir-fries, bean dishes, pastas. I am having such a hard time menu planning with DH's diet in mind. Our best options tend to be things like grilled chicken, grilled fish, shrimp stir fry (no rice for DH), all with veggies and grains on the side (I will steam some broccoli, cook some quinoa or whole wheat cous cous). These things just don't excite me and I am bored. Please give me suggestions on what to make. DH is being really cool and saying I should just make what I want and he will defrost some chili/roasted chicken on nights that our meal isn't right for him, but that just feels wrong to me. There has to be a way to find a happy medium.
My go-to meals tend to be one-dish meals containing carbs, veggies and proteins. I love casseroles, asian noodle stir-fries, bean dishes, pastas. I am having such a hard time menu planning with DH's diet in mind. Our best options tend to be things like grilled chicken, grilled fish, shrimp stir fry (no rice for DH), all with veggies and grains on the side (I will steam some broccoli, cook some quinoa or whole wheat cous cous). These things just don't excite me and I am bored. Please give me suggestions on what to make. DH is being really cool and saying I should just make what I want and he will defrost some chili/roasted chicken on nights that our meal isn't right for him, but that just feels wrong to me. There has to be a way to find a happy medium.