Stop Feeling Deprived & Find Something Delicous

When following a strict diet eating can be a constant reminder of what you cannot eat.  When you are feeling deprived it makes any sort of long term diet unattainable.  I learned with a little planning and effort you can make delicious meals to satisfy just about any craving without feeling you are even on a diet.  The difficult part is training yourself to think outside the box.

If I am craving tacos I buy 95% lean ground beef and instead of tortilla shell I use boston lettuce as a shell (the type of lettuce used for lettuce wraps).  I then pile on taco meat, homemade pico de gallo and drizzle on some fat free sour cream.  The boston lettuce gives it a nice crunch for some added texture. 

I already shared my recipe for Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes for a nice hardy side which is a fantastic substitute for the real thing.  There are amazing substitutes for (almost) every food.  Looking for a dessert?  A pretty decent Dukan Friendly Fat Free Low Carb dessert the cheesecake recipe listed below.

LOW CARB FAT FREE CHEESECAKE (4 Individual Servings)

1 Cup Splenda

2 Packages of Fat Free Cream Cheese (softened)

1 T Vanilla Extract

1 Cup of Egg Whites such as Egg Beaters

Blend all ingredients together at low speed and pour into 4 ramekin dishes.  Place in a 325° preheated oven for 35-45 minutes (or until center is almost set).  Remove from oven and refrigerate for 3 hours. 

Another great idea is stolen from my childhood.  Remember the days of making your own popsicles by freezing Kool-Aid?  A more adult version of this easy treat is frozen greek yogurt pops. 

Greek Yogurt Popsicles

You Favorite Flavor(s) of Fat Free Greek Yogurt

Sugar (Optional – flavored to taste)

Pick your favorite flavors of Greek Yogurt add your favorite no calorie sweetener (optional).  You can even laying it so the top half is one flavor and the bottom half another (we are really getting fancy now).  Throw them in those plastic popsicle kits and freeze!  

Recipes like these let you have fun and enjoy your food and not feel as if you are depriving yourself.  You should still be able to have fun and enjoy your food while you are on a diet.

Do you have a favorite recipe?  Please share! 

Dukan Diet Phase 2 & Cauliflower Mashed Potato Recipe

If the phrase “you are what you eat” were true I would look like a loaf of bread, bowl of rice, or giant baked potato (butter and sour cream please!!!!).  Not eating carbs (with the exception of the 2T of oat bran daily) is not the easiest diet.  I find it most difficult on my Protein Only days.  I sit down to dinner with a chuck of meat in front of me, no side of veggies, no potato or rice to accompany the meal.  Do not get me wrong, I do not leave the dinner table hungry, I just feel as if something is missing when I'm eating my meal. 

My favorite side on the Protein Only days, to give me a break from meat, is fat free cottage cheese.  Also to help wash down the meat I have been purchasing a plethora of different types of mustard, one of the permitted condiments due to it having no carbs.  I never realized how many types of mustard existed beyond traditional yellow… Dijon, Spicy Brown, Horseradish, and my favorite-Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce (found at Trader Joe’s).  I’m also a huge fan of Heinz Reduced Sugar Ketchup as well as Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (being of fan of anything and everything spicy).  Condiments are key to lasting on this diet on protein only days. 

I feel I can be on this diet forever (MOST) protein and vegetable days.  These are the days I no longer feel as if I’m even on a diet.  My favorite recipe is Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes.  It looks just like mashed potatoes and taste pretty close.  Even if you are trying to reduce your carb intake this is a must try recipe. 

Cauliflower Mashed Potato Recipe

1 Head of Cauliflower

1 T Fat Free Cream Cheese

1 T Fat Free Sour Cream

½ t Chicken Bouillon

½ minced garlic

Salt

Pepper

¼ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (Optional)

Bring a pot of water to a boil, cut cauliflower into chunks and place in boiling water for 6-8 minutes until tender.  Drain water and dry with clean dish cloth or paper towel.  In medium sized bowl mixed all ingredients with hand blender (immersion blender).  NOTE:  You can also use a food processor.  HOPE YOU ENJOY AS MUCH AS I DO!


When sitting down to dinner this recipe makes me feel as if I am eating a normal meal.  With the "mashed potatoes", side of vegetables, along with a nice portion of lean protein I leave the table feeling happy, full and satisfied.  Now if I can just figure out a way to make another mock side out of protein.... Anyone out there have any suggestions?