As with any diet or change of eating habit meals can become routine and boring. Fortunately there are now more options. You can now buy low carb milk that is only 4-5 carbs per cup of milk as compared to reg milk which is 11 carbs. You can even get it in chocolate and low fat. It only comes in a half gallons and has a long frig life until it is opened then it must be used in one week. It is called Calorie Count Down. So if you are also counting calories then this is also a good product for you. There are also sugar free hot chocolate mixes, 9 carbs, and diet mixes, 4 carbs minus 1 fiber to equal 3 carbs. this is put out by Swiss Miss. Then ther are now low carb bread and sugar free breads. A normal slice of bread is 11 carbs, sugar free is around 8-9 carbs and low carb is 7 carbs minus 2 fibers = 5 carbs per slice. The best part about it is they have worked really hard on the taste.

Dinner or supper depending on what you call it is the time you can get the most creative. Meats are usually no problem If they are fresh then you can use any type of meat you like. If you are a veggitarian then eating low carb is more of a challenge. Spaghetti squash is extremely good and easy to make. You can find in in the fresh produce department in your grocery store. It is a great substitute for spaghetti and even tastes alot like spaghetti once you put the sauce on it. There is a sauce put out by Ragu that is sugar free. If you prefer the taste of fettuchini there is also a sugar free version of that sauce as well. Spaghetti squash can also be used to make linguini. Another quick and easy veggitable dish is sliced clelery and carrots sauteed in butter. You can add a can of chicken to this if you want some meat in your dish.

A garden salad is great for the low carb diet but it too can become boring eating it day in and day out. Here are a few ideas to give you a change. Try fresh or frozen peas mixed with slices of cucumber in ranch salad dressing. For a bit different taste add some cherry tomatoes to the mix and sprinkle bacon bits on top with some grated cheese. Or just sliced cucumbers in a salad dressing is good.

There are now some sugar free cans of fruit that make it easier to get fruit back into your low carb diet. Another way to get fruit into you diet is using it in a low carb dessert. This is the hardest part of doing a low carb diet. You want somthing sweet but good tasting. A simple solution is fluff but not the marshmallow type that you buy in the store. Fluff is quick and easy and can be used in many different ways to make delicious desserts. Using heavy whipping cream, sugar free jello powder or sugar free instant pudding mixes is the basis for many desserts. When you add in some fruit it only gets better. Some companies add sugar to the whipping cream look for one that has no sugar added. And with the low carb milk you can of cource make sugar free instant pudding just like the package directs.

Here are some recipes to help you get started.

Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti

1 spaghetti squash cut in half with seeds removed

1 jar Ragu sugar free spaghetti sauce

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Place your spaghetti squash in a cake pan upside down so the rind is on the top. Add a cup or two of water to the pan. Place in oven and cook until a fork can be poked through the rind easily. Remove from oven and cake pan. place on flat surface and with a Large spoon scrape out the insides of the squash. It will come out in spaghetti like strands. Serve with your spaghetti sauce. Top with cheese if you wish.

Variations

Linguini:

Cook squash as directed above. Run cold water over it after it has been removed from the rind. Drain well. Mix with Italian salad dressing. Add fresh or frozen peas, grated carrots, bacon bits and finely chopped broccoli. Mix in grated cheese and then sprinkle cheese on top.

Fettucini:

Cook squash as directed above. Use sugar free fettucini sauce. Add grilled chicken slices or canned chicken if you wish to add meat to your dish. Or just have your chicken on the side.

Celery and Carrots

2 cups chopped celery

1 cup sliced carrots

salt and pepper to taste

3 tablespoons butter

Optional: Canned chicken

Sautee celery and carrots in butter for approxmately 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Optional: Add 1 or 2 cans of chicken. Do not drain and cook for another 5 minutes.

Basic Fluff

2 pints heavy whipping cream

1 sm box sugar free jello or pudding mix flavor of your choice.

If you are using jello dissolve it in a couple of tablespons of hot water. Set this aside.

In a large mixing bowl pour the whipping cream. Pour either your dissolved jello or pudding mix in to the bowl. Beat on high with an electric mixer until it starts to make peaks when the mixer is lifted. Place refrigerator and chill for 15 minutes.

Variations

*Folding in fruit of your choice to the basic recipe.

*Make sugar free jello with fruit added topped with basic fluff recipe.

* fill pre baked Fillo (Phyllo) cups with fluff.

*Use with crepes as a filling with or without fruit.

* Put fluff in an ice cube tray with a toothpick sticking out and freeze to make fluff popsicles.