Tips for Low-Carb Cooking
Reported November 15, 2004
NEW ORLEANS (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) –Researchers say about 11 percent of people in the United States follow a reduced-carbohydrate diet — that’s about 24 million Americans. Many restaurants are now catering to these dieters by offering low-carb menu items. But what if you could prepare your own low-carb meals that taste just as good? Here’s a chef who shows us how.
Chef Marc Gilberti teaches more than just how to prepare a tasty meal in his cooking class at Ochsner Clinic’s Elmwood Fitness Center. Students here are learning how to cook with fewer carbs.
Low-carb cooking may require a little more creativity in the kitchen, but Gilberti says it’s easy if you follow his advice.
First, pick the main ingredients. Lean meats, beans, eggplant and cheeses are great choices. Prepare some of the seasonings ahead of time.
“On a rainy day, chop a bunch of onions, bell peppers and celery,” Gilberti tells Ivanhoe. “Ziploc them, and freeze them. They will last forever in the freezer.”
When you cook, don’t forget spices like cayenne pepper. Gilberti says they enhance taste, and some increase metabolism. And don’t skimp on oils, garlic or wine. They add flavor to the foods.
Marc says get creative. If you’re craving tacos, try this alternative. He uses lean ground beef, taco seasoning, cheese, salsa and sour cream and fills a lettuce leaf instead of a taco shell. Each serving only has two grams of carbs.
Finally, the taste test. Gilberti’s cooking student, Janet Reed, says: “They’re just great recipes. He’s got the number of carbs. He’s got the calories. He’s got the fat content. You know what your net carbs are. It’s so easy.” Easy, and tasty too.
Gilberti teaches his class once a month. The class includes other recipes like low-carb Buffalo wings, low-carb stuffed jalapenos and even low-carb piña colada
If you would like more information, please contact:
Katherine Voss
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
Dept. of Public Affairs and Planning
1221 S. Clearview Parkway
2nd Floor
Jefferson, LA 70121
[email protected]
