Tips

Looking for a special treat for that special dad? Use photos to customize a 6-pack of his favorite low-carb beer, using instructions from Jennifer Perkins of The Naughty Secretary Club blog.

This project would actually be good for any dieter, not just dad. Customize the bottles with your favorite “skinny” pic as a reminder of how far you’ve come. You’re way less likely to overindulge if you’re looking at a picture of your progress.

Photo by star5112 (Creative Commons)

Trying to create a well-stocked low-carb bar? Club soda and seltzer are called for in many drink recipes. Both are carb-free and calorie-free. And both add a refreshing fizz to summertime drinks. But what’s the difference between these two ingredients? Do you need to keep both on hand, or can one be substituted for another?

Here’s the difference, according to Wikipedia:

• Seltzer is plain water into which carbon dioxide gas has been dissolved. It’s also known as carbonated water or sparkling water.
• Club soda is carbonated water that usually has other additives — things like table salt, sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, potassium sulfate, or disodium phosphate.

There is a slight difference in taste, but in most cases it’s probably fine to substitute one for another. We recommend trying a familiar recipe both ways, deciding which one you prefer, then keeping your preference on hand.

Here are a couple of low-carb club soda and seltzer recipes for you to try:

• Low-Carb Wine Cooler
• Low-Carb Mojito 2
• Low-Carb Pomegranatini 2

Enjoy!

Photo by Spencer E Holtaway (Creative Commons)

Like many types of foods, Mexican food can be enjoyed on a low-carb diet… it just takes a little creativity. If you’re planning to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a Mexican food fiesta, here are some food and drink ideas to help you out:

Food

• Celebrate Cinco de Mayo the Low Carb Way: About.com’s Low Carb Diets page shares tips for eating and drinking low-carb on this Mexican holiday. Among other things, she recommends substituting red bell peppers, cucumbers, and jicamas for the chips you would normally dip in otherwise low-carb-friendly guacamole, bean dip, and salsa (she includes recipes for the dips, too!).
• Cinco de Mayo on Low Carb: Bella Online’s Low Carb guide to Cinco de Mayo has links to several delicious-sounding recipes, including chicken mole, an Atkins burrito, and a low-carb enchilada sauce.
• Low-Carb and Mexican Cuisine: Tips from About.com’s Mexican Food page on how to eat Mexican on a low-carb diet. The section on eating low-carb at Mexican restaurants seems particularly helpful.
• Happy Cinco de Mayo! For those of you who are a little more adventurous, “The Lighter Side of Low-Carb” blog has recipes for high-carb Mexican food staples like enchiladas and nachos… which she makes low-carb-friendly by using using zucchini and cauliflower in place of chips and tortillas.

Alcohol
Try these low-carb drinks to wash down your Mexican food:

• Low-Carb Sangria: This fruity wine-based drink is perfectly refreshing, both for Cinco de Mayo and for the coming summer months.
• Low-Carb Margarita: A low carb margarita is the perfect accompaniment to a low-carb Mexican meal, whether you mix up your own, or try one of Baja Bob’s mixes.
• Corona Light Beer: Bella Online’s Low Carb guide reviews this Mexican beer.

Photo by Elaine Vigneault (Creative Commons)

Whether you’re celebrating Kentucky Derby Day alone or with friends, you may be craving some traditional Southern favorites. While Southern food isn’t typically known for being low-carb, here are a few suggestions that keep with tradition without going off the diet:

• Southern Flair Deviled Eggs: Low Carb Luxury’s deviled eggs recipe gives you a perfect low-carb finger-food to eat while you watch the Kentucky Derby.
• Low Carb Kentucky Hot Brown: Big Daddy D’s Kentucky Hot Brown is inspired by the traditional open-faced turkey sandwich, but has only 8 net carbs per serving.
• If you’re going for a full meal, try a good ol’ country ham.
• Make a Low-Carb Mint Julep or two. Or if you’re planning on having company (or having more than a couple yourself), follow these tips from Protein Power for a low-carb-friendly make ahead julep mix.

Photo by Velo Steve (Creative Commons)

A new article in the Tulsa World features dietitian Cece Davis’s suggestions for drinking alcohol on a diet. Her key to success?

“I always tell people: Whatever drink you can drink as slowly as possible, that’s your beverage of choice.”

In addition to some suggestions on types of drinks that can satisfy for longer (hint: light beers may not be the answer), she also has tips on making your own happy hour drinks and snacks. My fave? Her suggestion to make wine spritzers by mixing wine with seltzer or diet tonic. Read the full article for more ideas.

Super Bowl parties aren’t typically known for their low-carb fare. Pizza, chips, and beer tend to edge out healthier options. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

If you’re throwing a Super Bowl party, be sure to stock up on a good low-carb beer. Include club soda in your bar line-up — great for guests who want to turn a glass of wine into a low-carb spritzer. And try adding some of these healthy-but-yummy snacks to your game-day line-up:

• Superbowl Appetizers: These tips come from New Orleans — the home of great eating and great partying! She includes recipes for Slow-Cooker Firecracker Turkey Chili and a Black Bean-Tomatillo Dip. Just be sure to serve that dip with veggies instead of chips!
• Your Super Bowl Sunday Game Plan: A full menu (appetizers, main courses, desserts & more) for your healthy Super Bowl celebration.
• The Super Bowl Recipes Needed thread on Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb’s forums has lots of low-carb snack suggestions, including deviled eggs, homemade cheeseballs, and more.

Have fun, be good… and may your favorite team win!