How to Prepare Low-Carb Meals For Your Family: 4 Simple Steps!

We all know the difficulties of having to prepare low-carb meals for your whole family. After all, everyone has a different taste and cooking in batches can be quite challenging, especially if you don't have the specific meal plans that focus on both health and delicious flavor!

If you plan on following the keto diet, you don't have to prepare your own dishes while the family indulges in something else. To save time in the kitchen while having the family still enjoy your cooking, I show you how to prepare low-carb meals for your family.

image:pixabay.com/en/almonds-nuts-roasted-salted-1768792

Having a tough time figuring out what the family loves while staying low-carb? Try any of these tips:

1.   Communicate and Staying Organized

We all hate it when children groan over the same old dinner. Not only does it sting a bit, but if the family doesn't eat what you make, then they succumb to take out, which have no nutrients!

That's why it's best to announce to everyone your intentions of going low-carb and opening the table to suggestions on what to eat. Have different meals every day for more variety, ensuring that everyone gets their favorite at least once a week.

Now, list down the meals you want to make (ensuring that it's low-carb or there are low-carb versions of the recipe), then stay consistent with it. You can either prepare it a week ahead, or purchase the necessities once a week to make it on the night itself.

Make sure to stay organized with the list and keep it simple. That way, you will all stay consistent with what to have for dinner and receive no complaints!

2.   Substituting Ingredients

Now that you already have all the meals and ideas on what to make for the week, start by looking into the ingredients you can substitute for low-carb. For example, if someone wants mashed potatoes, you can replace the starchy vegetable with cauliflower. Or if it's pasta night, you can opt to use summer squash or spiraled zucchini, which tastes similar but with the better health benefits.

This is why it's best to choose easy recipes first, or meals that have low-carb versions of it to make it easy to whip up. You have a shorter grocery list, cook quicker, and you are less overwhelmed in the kitchen. We will get into the low-carb staples you need in your fridge when you want to make quick meals (just in case you don't have any concrete meal plan for the night!).

3.   Purchasing the Right Food

Once you have already established all the ingredients needed and meals to prepare, it's time to start creating the grocery list and shopping wisely. Here are the following staples to stock up in the kitchen:

          •        Nuts and Seeds

          •        Nut Butters

          •        MCT oils

          •        Sugar-free spices

          •        Low-carb condiments (mustard and mayonnaise)

          •        Coconut or almond flour

          •        Baking soda and baking powder

          •        Coconut and avocado oils

          •        Low-carb sweeteners

          •        Butter

          •        Eggs

          •        Cheese

          •        Full-fat milk and heavy cream

          •        Ground beef

          •        Grass-fed meats

          •        Salmon and tuna

          •        Low-carb vegetables (dark leafy greens such as spinach, cauliflower, zucchinis)

          •        Avocados

Through having these in your kitchen, you will be able to easily identify what you want to eat and what you can make, whether it's planned or on a whim. I recommend that you avoid packaged and instant food as much as possible, as it contains preservatives and unhealthy chemicals.

4.   Searching Up on Excellent Recipes

Last but not the least, it's now time to start searching up on good low-carb recipes and begin cooking! It's best to list down reputable blogs that offer the best keto-friendly recipes.

Once you have four the ideal recipes and begun cooking, make sure to ready everything on the table and start with the longest steps and preparations first.

When the meals are cooked, proportion it evenly and serve. If you have any more leftovers, then I recommend that you store them in a seal tight container and put it in the fridge or freezer, which can last for about three days. Your leftovers can be a good idea for a quick lunch the next day! That way, you ensure less food wastage and save money preparing other meals for the next few days ahead.

Wrapping It Up

Whether its lunch or dinner, you don't have to worry about your family not being able to enjoy the same low-carb meals you're having! Through effective planning and communicating with your loved ones about what they want, you'll be able to whip up exciting dishes without the overload of carbs.

I hope that this article on how to prepare low-carb meals for your family gave you an idea on how you can begin planning delicious dishes for everyone to appreciate now. So don't wait any longer and start following any of these tips and ideas today.

If you have any questions or want to share your tips and experiences on low-carb meal planning, then comment below. I would love to hear what you have to think.