The Sugar-Free Grain-Free Way

the best sugar-free, grain-free, and gluten-free low carb diet recipes

February 25, 2013
by sugarfreegrainfree
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Sugar-free grain-free low-carb dessert

apple almond yogurt sugar-free low-carb dessertHere’s a sugar-free, grain-free, low-carb, guilt-free dessert that will blow your mind.  Despite all of the adjectives I just used, this dessert is super easy to make and super delicious!

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 apple
  • 1 handful of almonds
  • 1/2 cup of plain, unsweetened yogurt

Here’s how you make it:

  1. No rocket science here, just chop up the apple into bite size pieces and put it in a bowl with the almonds and yogurt.
  2. Feel free to substitute other types of fruit for the apple.  This recipe also works great with a banana, pear, or strawberries!
apple almond yogurt sugar-free low-carb dessert

This has all of the attributes of a winning dessert: the sweetness of the apple, the crunch of the almonds, and the creaminess of the yogurt, so enjoy!

1 vote, 5.00 avg. rating (100% score)

February 25, 2013
by sugarfreegrainfree
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Low-carb lunch: the best crispy baked chicken wings

low-carb crispy chicken wings and saladCrispy chicken wings are one of the tastiest dishes known to man (and woman).  These chicken wings are so good that you won’t need to dip them in any sauces; that’ll just detract from their amazing flavor.

And there’s no need to fry the wings to get the crisp factor, so this low-carb lunch is as healthy as it is delicious.  The secret is to boil the wings for about 8 minutes before seasoning and popping them into the oven.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 dozen chicken wings (you can use more or fewer wings)
  • Spices: paprika, cumin, turmeric

Here’s how you make them:

  1. Boil some water in a pot and preheat your oven to 400°F.
  2. Add the chicken wings to the water when the water has started boiling. Boil the wings for 8 minutes.
  3. Take the wings out of the water and dry them off with paper towels.  Put them in a bowl and add 1 tablespoon of paprika and 1 teaspoon each of cumin and turmeric.  Toss the wings around with the seasonings until the wings are seasoned evenly.
  4. Place the wings on a baking sheet and put them in the oven.  Bake for 20 minutes, then flip the wings over and bake for another 20 minutes.
  5. Enjoy!  The wings pair up great with a fresh salad (as you can see from the photo).
1 vote, 5.00 avg. rating (100% score)

November 29, 2012
by sugarfreegrainfree
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The Raw Rule

the raw foods ruleIt just dawned on me that I can condense how I select most of the foods I eat into one underlying theme, and it even has a catchy name: “The Raw Rule”

For the most part – and I’m sure there will be some exceptions – the foods that I consume can be eaten raw by humans. And if a type of food (or one of its ingredients), cannot be eaten raw, then I try to stay away from it.

Now this doesn’t mean that I’m on a “raw food diet.” I do cook a lot of my food, but The Raw Rule just means that what I cook can also be eaten uncooked.

Vegetables, nuts, and fruits obviously all pass The Raw Rule with flying colors. Meats and eggs are good (examples: sashimi, steak tartare, beef carpaccio, and raw eggs).

On the other hand, most grains fail this test.  (Try eating raw rice, pasta, flour, or wheat.) And most processed foods contain ingredients that aren’t recommended for human consumption, regardless of whether they are cooked or not.

1 vote, 5.00 avg. rating (100% score)

November 22, 2012
by sugarfreegrainfree
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Healthy and delicious sugar-free pecan pie recipe

sugar-free sweetener-free grain-free pecan pieWho doesn’t love pecan pie?  It’s one of the best desserts ever invented.  Only problem is that it’s loaded with sugar and wheat-based carbs, so it’s a definite “no no” for those of us who are committed to a sugar-free, grain-free lifestyle.  But that doesn’t mean that we can’t ever enjoy the sweetness and crunchiness of a hot, freshly baked pecan pie.

I’ve come up with an awesome low-carb recipe for sugar-free, grain-free pecan pie, and just in time for Thanksgiving!  It’s easy to make and delicious, with just the right level of sweetness.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 9-inch pie tin

Here’s how you make it:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
  2. In a large bowl, mix the applesauce, melted butter, cinnamon, and chopped pecans.
  3. Pour the mixture into the 9-inch pie tin.  (You can also use individual-sized cups like the one in the photo.)  Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 30 to 40 minutes, or until your pecan pie looks done.
  4. I like to add a spoonful of unsweetened plain yogurt and spread it on top of my pecan pie like frosting.  It offers a nice creamy contrast to the sweetness and crunchiness of the pecan pie.

Enjoy!

1 vote, 5.00 avg. rating (100% score)

November 20, 2012
by sugarfreegrainfree
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Baked whole chicken with root vegetables


easy baked whole chicken with root veggies

I admit, the picture of this delicious baked whole chicken might be a bit misleading, but only because it is so much easier to make this awesome dish than it looks.

Even better, it only takes about an hour of oven-time for the chicken to be ready to be devoured.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  •  1 whole chicken (obviously ;) )
  • 1 onion
  • 3 carrots
  • 2 sweet potatoes
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • olive oil
  • thyme
  • cumin
  • paprika

Heat the oven to 475°F.

Cut up the onion, carrots, sweet potatoes, and two of the garlic cloves and put them in a baking dish. Drizzle a bit of olive oil and about a half teaspoon each of the thyme, cumin, and paprika on the chopped veggies and mix it up with your hands so that the olive oil and spices are evenly dispersed.

Chop up the other two cloves of garlic and put them into the chicken cavity. Add some thyme and olive oil to the cavity and mix it up with your hands.

Place the chicken, breast up, onto the vegetable bed, and drizzle some olive oil and rub on some thyme, cumin, and paprika to lightly coat the chicken.

If you aren’t Paleo, you can spread some butter on the top of the chicken with your hands for some more added flavor.

Throw the chicken into the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Then, turn the temperature down to 400F and continue baking your bird for another 45 minutes.

Let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before you start carving it, and don’t forget to mix up the veggies before serving them so that the seasoned juice is evenly dispersed.

Enjoy!

1 vote, 5.00 avg. rating (100% score)

November 8, 2012
by sugarfreegrainfree
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Awesome low-carb breakfast: cabbage omelette salad

Here’s a great low-carb breakfast recipe to start off your day: I call it the cabbage omelet salad.  It’s a delicious and satisfying sugar-free & grain-free meal that’s fast and easy to prepare!

Many Americans bristle at the thought of eating salad for breakfast, but once you get used to it, vegetables get super addictive.  This is how millions of Europeans in the Mediterranean region fuel up each morning and stay in great shape.

And the best part of eating veggies and protein is losing those powerful cravings for sweet, sugary foods!

low-carb sugar-free grain-free breakfast - cabbage omelette salad

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 2 eggs
  • some cabbage
  • a few cherry tomatoes (or a regular tomato)
  • 1-3 mushrooms
  • half an avocado
  • olive oil
  • a lemon (optional)

Fry up the two eggs (it’s best to use a little bit of olive oil to cook the eggs). Cut them into bite-size pieces and throw them onto your plate or bowl.

Shred some cabbage (no need for a food processor or any other fancy equipment – just slice up part of the cabbage using a regular knife). Throw the shredded cabbage onto your plate.

Cut the tomatoes, mushrooms, and avocado into bite-size pieces and add them to your plate. Drizzle some olive oil and squeeze some lemon juice onto the salad. You can toss the salad a bit if you want to mix up the olive oil & lemon juice, but it’s not mandatory. (You can also add a bit of salt and pepper if you want.)

*Tip: If you don’t have these exact ingredients, no worries! This recipe is very flexible and works great with a variety of veggies: fresh spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower…you get the point.

*Another Tip: If want to trick out this recipe even more (and if you eat dairy), I highly recommend adding any or all of the following to your salad: fresh grated parmesan or pieces of feta cheese (either cooked in the eggs or sprinkled on top of your salad), chopped fresh parsley and/or coriander, and pumpkin and/or sunflower seeds!

1 vote, 5.00 avg. rating (100% score)

October 30, 2012
by sugarfreegrainfree
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The best sugar-free drink

the best sugar-free drinkI start each morning with a big glass of water (after I brush my teeth, of course). This is the first of many glasses of water that I drink throughout the day.

The great thing about water is that it quenches your thirst and hydrates your body without affecting your blood sugar levels. Sweet juices and sodas are an efficient way of ingesting large quantities of sugar and empty calories, which make your blood sugar and insulin levels shoot up. When they inevitably come crashing down shortly afterwards, you are left feeling hungry and usually craving more carbs. The easiest way to end this cycle: switch over to water.

I didn’t always used to drink water. Up until a few years ago, the only liquids I drank on a daily basis were fruit juices and coffee (both of which were loaded with sugar – either by the manufacturer or by myself!). I consider my ditching of sweet beverages for water to be one of the main reasons that I’ve been able to stay fit.

Coincidentally, I also used to suffer quite frequently from headaches. I’d get headaches at least once a week, and nothing I did (mainly taking loads of Advils) seemed to help.

A few people had told me to try drinking more water. As this “solution” sounded to good to be true, it took me a while before I decided to give it a shot. But as soon as I started drinking several glasses of water on a daily basis, my headache problem was cured.

1 vote, 5.00 avg. rating (100% score)