Around 3 million of us are following, or have at least tried, some variation of a low-carb programme and it’s quite likely that some of your nearest and dearest are among these weight-loss winners. So what better way to spend some time with your loved ones than to throw a Low carb friendly dinner party?
Not sure where to start? Well, even if your guests aren’t following the Low-Carb Plan, it’s the perfect way to give them a taste of your new lifestyle – and there might even be some converts.
When you think about planning your dinner party, start with your main course and play around with that first. The main course is usually your protein source, whether it’s chicken, fish, pork, lamb or whatever you prefer. Then go on to your side dishes. Instead of starchy sides, make two vegetable dishes. It’s an opportunity to try some interesting veggies you haven’t used before such as kale, bok choi, asparagus or chard.
There are plenty of things to consider, including what courses you want to have, how to achieve proper portion control and the best way to ensure that your guests leave the table content and satisfied. Yes, this can all be accomplished low-carb – the only limit is your imagination.
Start the evening on a light note with drinks and appetisers. Your drinks can range from low-carb beer to white spirits such as vodka, gin and rum but do be sure to have some non-alcoholic drinks for any of your guests who are in the Carb Reduction phase of the Low-Carb plan. Mixers need to be diet varieties, sweetened with non-sugar artificial sweeteners. When served up with marinated olives, a cheese plate, leaves of endive filled with egg mayonnaise, prawn cocktail or smoked salmon, you have a great start to your night to remember.
For a more informal party, prepare an antipasto salad with meats and cheese or sliced low-carb veggies (try peppers, celery or radishes) with a sour cream or mayonnaise dip.
Appetisers and hors d’oeuvres are an easy way to serve a first course while you’re standing around.
It’s also a good idea to have protein in the first course. Take the opportunity to use fish because the sooner you get protein in your system, the sooner you feel satisfied, so you’re likely to eat less at the rest of the meal. As opposed to a bread-heavy first course that leaves you full and feeling uncomfortable, protein tells the body to do the job and self-regulate.
Because you can enjoy such a diversity of healthy fats on the Low-Carb Plan, feel free to serve a cream sauce with meat or sauté prawns in butter. Even gravy is a feasible option, as long as you make one that doesn’t require flour – remember, you can use soya flour in place of plain flour if you prefer a thickened sauce to a reduced jus.
The Low-Carb plan doesn’t limit healthy fats. Fat is very important in any meal. It gives a feeling of fullness or satiety and makes foods rich and tasty. We’re not getting rid of the flavour. Fresh herbs and spices add even more flavour. Going low carb does not mean that isn’t still very high in flavour.
For many low-carb meals, portion control is almost automatic. If you serve pork chops or fillets of salmon, it’s one serving per person. If you prepare a 4-pound roast, you have between 8 to 12 servings. Side dishes are another story. While many people like to start off with a soup or salad, consider serving a creative salad as a side.
Use as much colour as you can handle. Have a leafy green such as creamed spinach and a salad with cucumbers, tomatoes and feta cheese. Enjoy a diverse array of acceptable veggies: alfalfa sprouts, mushrooms, radicchio, bok choy, romaine lettuce, fennel, artichoke, celery and celeriac, rhubarb, chard, sugar snap peas and mange tout, spring onions, squash, kale, brussels, string beans, cauliflower, courgettes, onions, cabbage, leeks, turnip and swede... the list goes on. You’ll never miss those starchy high-carb foods when you’re feasting on fabulous dishes like cauliflower puree with cheese or fennel gratin.
What is a dinner party without decadent desserts and after-dinner drinks? Even on a low-carb diet which eliminates unhealthy carbs and sugary processed foods, you can still enjoy gourmet sweet treats without having to ride the roller coaster of rising and falling blood sugar. It’s all the pleasure without the pain. Fruit kebabs and sugar free jelly are excellent party favourites.
The cheese board is another Low-Carb favourite and a great way to round off your meal.