Alternatives to Carbs for Dinner

cos they makes you fat n that.

i have to go carbless (or complex carbless) for a feww weeks before a fight to make wieght (im a boxer). basically most of my meals consist of protein + veg/fruit. so tuna salad, chicken brocolli and peas, spinach and tomato omlette etc etc. i dont find the need to 'replace' complex carbs as such, its just a case of not eating them. Quinoas good though, its a cereal so it has some carbs in it but its mostly fibre and protein. cooked with a bit of vegetable stock it actually tastes ok as well

Just get yourself out of the mindset that you 'need' carbs with a meal. There's nothing wrong with fish and veggies (for example), you don't need potatoes, rice or bread with it. Most people eat too many refined carbohydrates anyway, although it's sensible to replace them with more complex carbohydrates (like wholegrains) rather than eliminate them entirely.

But, techinically chick peas are a source of carbohydrates, they are the 'slow-release' kind but they're still fairly carb heavy. Ditto kidney beans, although compared to other beans they're fairly low carb. It's not healthy to eat too many carbs, but for the most part you do need some carbohydrates each day as part of a balanced diet. Unless you're 'low-carbing' for some reason (which isn't really safe for very extended periods) then you just need to eat sensibly, rather than cutting whole food groups out of your diet. For the most part, carbohydrates will provide the majority of the fibre in your diet, and it's not really a good idea to not eat fibre - hence why most low carb diets give you the side effect of constipation ...

As you can see if you READ my post, I did say that you should replace refined carbs with unrefined carbs rather than cut them out of your diet entirely. I also say that it's not safe to go on low carb diets for extended periods and I also say that it's not safe to cut entire food groups out of your diet. There's really no need to be so rude, arrogant or inaccurate. Most of what you so politely point out is exactly what I wrote in my post. You do NOT need massive portions of unrefined carbs with every meal (like potatoes, white rice, white pasta or white bread). A small portion of unrefined carbs (like wholemeal pasta, brown rice or something similar) is much better in many, many ways.

And fyi, I have worked as a chef and a baker for many years, so I think I know a little about carbs and nutrition.

i read your post quite clearly.

"Just get yourself out of the mindset that you 'need' carbs with a meal." - what I meant by that is that most people will take a large portion of refined carbohydrates because that what they feel they need to 'make' a meal. You don't, a small portion if unrefined carbohydrates is healthier and better. Most people do not eat sensibly sized portions at meals anyway, and for the most part this 'excess' is generally made up of refined carbohydrates. We don't 'need' refined carbs, we need high fibre, unrefined carbs for energy and for their fibre content. Refined foods, in general, are less healthy than their unrefined counterparts. Yes, they often have added vitamins and minerals but for the most part, we could get most of what we need from a sensible balanced diet (of course there are exceptions and some additives are beneficial - iodine, for example, depending on where you live, the addition of folic acid to bread and breakfast cereals has been proven to reduce the incidence of spina bifida).

"you don't need a big helping of potatoes, rice or bread with it". - you need as many as you need. in the context of the OP she should be eating alot more than what she entails to be. - this makes no sense, 'entails to be' what? Than she states she is eating? Than she feels she needs? Sorry, but I don't understand you here.

"But, techinically chick peas are a source of carbohydrates, they are the 'slow-release' kind but they're still fairly carb heavy." - no theyre not. Chickpeas have a fairly high carbohydrate content, when viewed in the context of other pulses and beans. They are about 60% carbohydrate, which is, as I said, fairly high, but as I said they are a healthier form of carbohydrate than (say) refined white flour.

"but for the most part you do need some carbohydrates each day as part of a balanced diet." - you need carbs. period. As I said, you do need some carbs, but you should be careful about the type and quantity that you consume. Most people eat far more carbohydrates than their bodies actually 'need'. It's about being aware of the type and quality of food that you eat.

"Unless you're 'low-carbing' for some reason (which isn't really safe for very extended periods)" - theres no good reason for 'low-carbing'. I am not advocating low carbohydrate diets. Some people follow them for weight loss/muscle gain reasons. As I said, I'm not an advocate and I did say it's not safe.

and btw, being a chef or a baker does not mean you understand nurtion. all it means is that you cook the food. Fair point (if untrue, since you don't know what my specific qualifications are), but I still think you're being a little aggressive

i have to go carbless (or complex carbless) for a feww weeks before a fight to make wieght (im a boxer).

Cutting carbs to make weight is surely the wrong way to go.
If you cut carbs, your body will start burning muscle.
My friend was told that if you can't make weight through a couple of sessions in the sauna, you're in the wrong weight category.