This cooking article is not to give you medical advice about your diet. Only your doctor can tell you what's right for you. The article is designed to give low carb cooks some tips on making quick low carbohydrate meals.

Cooking low carb meals can be easier and faster than going to a fast food restaurant. Not to mention, healthier and tastier. The trick to this is keeping the kitchen stocked up with some items that are 'ready to go'.

One problem that some low carbers have is they get hungry and need something to eat fast. This is more normal during the early stages of the diet because after being on it for awhile you tend to lose your hunger. Too often low carbers choose the wrong food and blow their diet. This leads to negative feelings and doubts as to self worth.

If you are going to low carb, you need to learn how to be a low carb cook. Most fast food places do not accommodate a low carb diet, so let's explore some of the ways to make this diet more convenient for you.

Fast and Convenient Snacks

There are some staples you will need to keep on hand. For quick snacks you will want to keep these items accessible:

Hard Boiled Eggs - These are great for fast snacks; a small breakfast for those that don't like a big breakfast, chop them up in vegetable salads, chicken salads, tuna salads or egg salads. Make up a dozen or so at a time, peel them and store them in the refrigerator in cold water. Reach in and grab one when you get a little hungry.

Cheese - Cheese is very important in a low carb diet. It's not a must have, but it's a tasty way to get some dairy product into your diet. Cheese makes a great addition to salads, a great topping for burgers or even a great stand alone snack. To be low carb fast cooking prepared, always keep a variety of cheese handy. These would include shredded, sliced, string and hunks of cheeses varying from cheddar to mozzarella.

Snacks - The first thing that comes to mind is pork rinds. These no-carb snacks go a long way in fulfilling a lot of low carb needs. They make a great snack by themselves or with a little hot sauce on them. But you can also dip them in sour cream, plain unsweetened yogurt, put cream cheese on them, crumble them up in a salad, or crush them for breading for fried chicken.

Other good snacks would include fresh veggies; cauliflower, broccoli, celery, zucchini, green, red and yellow bell peppers, mushrooms and radishes. These go well with a nice low carb dip (or even mayonnaise).

Entrees

Keep plenty of quick meats on hand. Ground beef can be used in so many ways that, with a little creativity, you'll never tire of it. Just change it up with spices, cheese and peppers to fit your mood.

A really great fast meal trick is to take fish and steam it in a pan with a little water and onion and top it with frozen mixed vegetables. Since you are low carbing you can even take the liberty of adding some real butter. Yummy!

In fact, frozen veggies will work with stir fry, too. Buy meat or pork prepared for stir fry, along with frozen stir fry vegetables and put them in a hot skillet with a little oil and garlic (keep stirring - hence the name). In ten minutes, you'll be eating a luxurious meal.

Of course, maybe the ultimate quick meal is a juicy steak or some plump pork chops on the grill with a nice salad.

Low carb cooking is quick, easy and very tasty. It really couldn't be any quicker and still be healthy.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Cooking