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The Decadent Diet

Dedicated low-carbers like to describe their way of eating as nutritious, filling, healthy and traditional. But what about people who want to eat decadently, not Puritanically? Who are sick of busybody goody-goodies and diet police? Low carb is good for them, too. On what other diet can you eat dip for dinner and dessert for breakfast?

Guacamole, pork rinds, crispy fried pork (fried in lard, seasoned with salt).
This isn't a cheat meal--you can have this every night and eat until you're full since there are hardly any carbs there. (Note that you can't substitute corn chips--they're too carby. And don't get guacamole that's full of carbs.) If the dinner looks a little skimpy, it's because I saved room for dessert.

Low carb, non dairy chocolate ice cream. It does have carbs in it, so go easy. Recipe here.
I'm not sure if this is what some people call "rewarding food," but I'm full. Granted, I was never obese, but I'm from a family full of wonky blood sugar and I know how it feels to be hungry enough to eat the wallpaper a couple of hours after a low-fat, starchy meal. Before I started low carb, I could put away a bag of cookies in a sitting. People knew not to get between me and a pan of brownies or pizza. In all other areas of life, I'm self-controlled: I've never bounced a check, never missed a deadline at work, and never tried drugs because I knew I'd be addicted to anything I really liked.

For most people, a low carb diet quells their appetite. Various clinical studies have found that people on low-carb diets spontaneously reduce their calorie intake.

You can be decadent on LC, but not out of control: starchy and sugary foods are out (or limited to very small amounts). Without the blood sugar swings those foods can bring on, though, it's easier to stay in control.
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Comments

Anonymous said…
Great post, Lori. That pork looks wonderful! And guacamole - mmm mmm!
I think 'rewarding food' is a problem when it gives no physical satisfaction. As the food eaten in LCHF is so satisfying, it doesn't matter if it IS gorgeous and rewarding - the physical satisfaction signals will override the 'rewarding' signals.
Oh my God - I'll have to put that on my blog!
June 13, 2013
Lori Miller said…
Some food (like wheat) has druglike effects; it's hard for me to stop eating it once I start. And Tom Naughton recently mentioned in the comments on his blog that some studies show that unnourishing food doesn't quell appetite as well as nutritious food. Meat, eggs and veg are highly nutritious--more so than grains.
June 13, 2013
Lowcarb team member said…
Hi Lori, enjoyed this post. Those who already eat LCHF know that it is satisfying and to those who haven't tried it yet I'd certainly recommend it.

All the best Jan
June 13, 2013
Lori Miller said…
Nothing wrong with giving it a two-week trial (since that's how long it takes to adapt to it). If you don't like it, you can go back to whatever you were doing before.
June 13, 2013
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