Tuna Salad or Chicken Salad

(note: if you want to start a low-carb diet yourself, I recommend reading why: Why We Get Fat (including a simple how — and it’s the “how” I’m doing) and how: New Atkins.)

For lunch or dinner, I used to like eating a tuna sandwich. I’ve had to get creative with ingredients, so I feel like it’s my tuna salad is a true replacement.

Here’s what can go in (sometimes all at once), depending on what’s in the fridge:

  • Can of Tuna
  • Chicken – from a can, or cooked and cooled then chopped/diced
  • Mayonnaise or Vegenaise
  • Mustard
  • Tabasco
  • Pickle – diced
  • Tomato – diced
  • Bell Pepper – diced
  • Olives – sliced or chopped
  • Pepperoncini or Jalapeño peppers – diced
  • Bacon – crumbled
  • Roasted Nuts – chopped
  • Cheese – parmesan or finely shredded cheddar blend
  • Lettuce – either as a bed or shredded and mixed in

Bacon Avocado Cheese Burger

(note: if you want to start a low-carb diet yourself, I recommend reading why: Why We Get Fat (including a simple how — and it’s the “how” I’m doing) and how: New Atkins.)

Half an avocado per day is okay on a low-carb diet. This may just save my life — literally. I’m from California, so I can’t live long without avocado (and I’d give up on this life-saving diet if I couldn’t eat them).

Bunless Hamburger: (combine all ingredients into a bowl)

  • Cut up a Beef or Turkey burger into bite-sized pieces — make sure it’s palatable plain since it’s the main ingredient.
  • Mix in shredded cheese, so it melts.
  • (optional) Mix in two pieces of bacon, chopped.
  • (optional) After the cheese has melted, add diced or halved-and-sliced tomatoes.
  • Cut half an avocado into slices, and place on mix. Or mash slices with a splash of lemon juice, salt, and pepper for simple guacamole.
  • Top with lettuce (chopped into bite-sized pieces and tossed with a spoonful of mayonnaise — I actually prefer the taste of Vegenaise).

I eat a few variations of this, depending on available ingredients (such as lightly fried, diced bell pepper).

Snack Time, Nuts!

(note: if you want to start a low-carb diet yourself, I recommend reading why: Why We Get Fat (including a simple how — and it’s the “how” I’m doing) and how: New Atkins.)

It’s pretty difficult to find low-carb snack food. I’m eating food (meat, veggies) that’s quickly perishable to stick to this diet. There’s cheese and jerky that can stand a bit of time outside of the fridge, but not indefinitely.

In my desk, I keep a container of roasted, salted, mixed nuts. I also have what are essentially Tupperware shot glasses. Since I have to limit my intake of nuts (they do contain carbs), I measure one (or sometimes two) shots per day. This is the snack I eat the most during the school year.

At home, I just nibble on ingredients I use in other meals (which I’ll post soon).