Every year people around the world make New Year’s resolutions to reach certain goals, improve their health, and better their lives. Some people are successful at keeping their resolutions, while many others fail. In 2020, for 43% of Americans the most popular New Year’s resolution was to eat healthier. For many people, a healthy diet means eating a diet that is low in carbohydrates, especially if weight loss is desirable. However, it can be difficult to stick to a strict low-carb diet. Cooking with Bellisari’s Gourmet Sauces and Spreads is one way to make many low-carb foods taste delicious without adding things that are high in fat and those pesky carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates, or carbs, have a bad reputation because they're found in many foods that are both calorie-dense and nutrient-poor, like potato chips, baked goods, candy, and soda. Cutting back on those specific foods definitely can benefit one’s health. Keep in mind the obvious high-carb options like breads and pastas made with refined flours aren’t the only culprits with carbohydrates. It's important to remember that plenty of healthy foods are high in carbs, too. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans are primarily made of carbohydrates but also come packed with health-promoting fiber and nutrients. These foods with “whole” carbohydrates are part of a healthy diet.
Examples of whole carbs include:
On the other hand, refined carbs include:
- sugar-sweetened beverages
- white bread
- pastries
- other items made with white flour
Just watch out for the added fats you use when you cook and serve them, because this will increase the calorie content. And this is where Bellisari’s can help you stick to your eating plan by making delicious dishes without added butter, oils, breading, or other ingredients that add both calories and carbs.
Breakfast is a great time to eat low carb, and this Bellisari’s recipe checks all the boxes for a very tasty, yet low-carb breakfast. Our Calabrian Pepper Frittata (https://bellisaris.com/pages/calabrian-pepper-frittata) has a little healthy fat in the form of a small amount of olive oil, eggs and cheese provide lots of protein to keep you feeling fuller longer, and some whole carbohydrates are brought to the dish with some fresh baby spinach and garlic. A jar of Bellisari's Calabrian & Sweet Tomato Fennel Spread goes into this recipe infusing tons of flavor for 0 grams of fat and only 3 grams of carbohydrates in each serving.
What's for lunch and dinner on a low-carb diet? You could have mouth-watering, delicious dishes full of meat, fish, chicken, vegetables, and full-fat sauces. The options are nearly limitless, but our recipe for Onion Jam Chicken (https://bellisaris.com/pages/onion-jam-chicken) is a very low-carb dish that is perfect for a weeknight dinner, and it’s even a wonderful recipe to make when serving dinner guests too. When all you’re adding to a whole chicken is a little olive oil and salt and pepper and a jar of Bellisari’s award-winning Balsamic Shallot & Black Garlic Spread which only adds 1 gram of fat and 3 total grams of carbohydrates, you have a wonderful, low-carb entree to serve to family and friends. Leftovers will make a great lunch the next day!
Finally, if you’re worried that your new lifestyle of eating a low-carb diet might be difficult to manage at a party for example, worry no more! There are plenty of great appetizers and snacks that can fit in a low-carb diet. I usually think of deviled eggs as being a decadent snack with lots of fat and calories. However, our recipe for Blue Cheese, Honey, and Shallot Deviled Eggs (https://bellisaris.com/pages/the-beard-and-the-baker-blue-cheese-honey-shallot-deviled-eggs) can be eaten on a low-carb diet with little to no guilt at all. Eggs, a little mayo, and our popular Blue Cheese, Honey, & Shallot spread makes for the perfect low-carb snack. Our spread only adds 6 grams of carbohydrates per serving which is still considered to be a relatively low-carb dish.
Sometimes, the difference between the success or failure of our New Year’s resolutions is as easy as choosing a measurable goal and how one goes about achieving it. Simply by adding our spreads or sauces, you can make incredible gourmet dishes without adding a lot of carbohydrates. Maybe the most important thing when it comes to making goals for the new year is to remember to be kind and flexible with yourself and to celebrate any and all progress along the way. It's not just the end goal that matters—it's the journey along the way. Happy New Year from all of us at Bellisari’s!
