MHNutrition

A Day of Healthy Carb-Cutting

cut-carbs

Get on the wagon the healthy way. Ross Edgely, sports scientist and Olympic coach at the English Institute of Sport, gives you a daily meal planner to cut down on carbs without feeling like you’re starving yourself.

 

8am — Breakfast

Omelette with 3 whole eggs, 2 egg whites, a handful of spinach, 20g reduced-fat cheese (grated) and coconut oil

The secret is coconut oil, which is completely cholesterol-free and a great source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), transformed by your liver into energy rather than fat. MCTs also have a satiating effect, keeping you feeling full.

 

11am — Snack

Cottage cheese and cantaloupe

Fruit contains the natural sugar fructose, which actually causes your blood sugar and insulin levels to rise and therefore encourage fat-gain. The exception to that rule is the cantaloupe, which is very low in carbs compared to other fruits, containing just 8g of carbs in half a small melon.

 

1pm — Lunch

Grilled beef mince and steamed broccoli and cauliflower, mixed with green salad, olive oil and some guacamole

Substitute high-fructose sauces like ketchup for guacamole. The avocado makes this a great source of essential fatty acids. These not only help you feel fuller for longer but actually act as fat-burning agents to keep you lean.

 

4pm — Snack

Beef jerky

Protein not only fi lls you up, but also regulates blood-sugar. A high-protein snack such as beef jerky will help to stabilise blood-sugar levels for the rest of the day, and reduce sugary cravings in the afternoon. Keep some jerky in your drawer for biscuit o’clock.

 

7pm — Dinner

Tuna and prawn salad with lettuce and tomato slices with vinaigrette dressing

Seafoods are a great source of chromium, an essential mineral that plays a fundamental role in controlling blood-sugar levels. The salad is high in fibre, low in calories and nutrient-dense, so you only need 200kcal of salad to fi ll you up as much as 500kcal of a carbs such as chocolate.

 

 

Words by Laura Marci. Image from Stockexchange

 

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