Question:
What are some of the really bad no-no carbs we should stay away from?

   — Betty M. (posted on January 16, 2002)

January 15, 2002
Potatoes, white bread, bagls, muffins, sugar, white rice, milk, ice cream.
   — [Anonymous]

January 16, 2002
I was told to limit some foods because of their carb content, but Milk and Fruit sugars are not no-no's!! You need those to stay healthy, but limit them. Here is what my dietician said: Veggies: Get your protien FIRST and add 2-3 servings of veggies if you can. Avoid veggies with added sugars or veggie jusices with added sugars. 1/2 cup fresh, frozen or canned veggies that have no added sugars, butter, cheese or sauces. Here are some examples: artichoke, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, greens, green or red peppers, green or wax beans, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, onions, pea pods, rashish, rutabaga, spaghetti squash, spinach, tomato, turnip, water chestnuts, winter squash, zucchini, yellow squash. 1/2 cup vegetable juice with no added sugars Starches: Again, meet your protien goal FIRST. Foods with starch in them provide energy, B-vitamins and iron. Limit yourself to 2 to 4 servings of starch per day. Keep away from baked beans or beans high in sugar, high sugar cerals, granola (unless you make it yourself with sucra), muffins, danish, donuts, fruit breads, cookies and cakes. Limit to only once or twice a week at MOST: starchy veggies with excess butter, cheese, or fat-laden toppings, croissants, butter rolls, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, theater or regular pop corn, and potato chips. DO CHOOSE the following: 1/2 cup cooked beans and peas (including soups!) 1/2 cup lentils and split peas 1/2 cup corn 1/2 cut parsnips 3 oz. baked potatoe or sweet potato 1/2 cup mashed potato 1/2 cup cooked or cold cerals (oatmeal, cream of wheat, cheerios, rice krispies, or total) 1/3 cup cooked rice (brown, white or wild) 1/2 cup cooked pasta (plain or whole wheat) 1/2 cup couscous 2/3 cup cooked bulgur 1 slice of bread (whole grain or white) 1 oz. or 1/2 hamburger or hot dog bun 1 oz or 1/2 a bagel (small bagel!) 1 oz or 1/2 of an English muffin 1 oz or 1/2 of a pita (whole wheat or white) 1 oz. or 1/2 tortilla (flour or corn) 1/2 lawash 5 whole wheat or saltine crackers 3/4 oz pretzels (fat free) 2 cups light or fat free microwave popcorn 2 plain rice cakes FRUITS: Meet protien goals first!! Add 2-3 servings of fruits per day: Fresh, frozen or canned fruits without added sugars or canned in its own juice. Examples: 4 oz apple; 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce; 4 apricots; 4 oz. banana; 3/4 cup blueberries; 1 cup cantaloupe; 12 cherries; 17 grapes; 1/2 grapefruit; 1 cup honeydew melon; 1 kiwi; 1/2 mango; 1 nectarine (small); 1 small orange; 1/2 papaya; 1 peach or 1/2 cup canned peaches; 4 oz pear (half a large pear); 3/4 cup fresh pinapple or 1/2 cup of canned pineapple; 2 small plums; 3 prunes; 2 tablespoons raisins; 1 cup raspberries; 1 cup strawberries; 2 small tangerines; 1 1/4 cup of watermelon; 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup of 100% fruit juice without added sugar (you may need to dilute this if it causes dumping). Stay away from completely: canned fruits packed in heavy or light syrup, fruit pie fillings, juices with added sugar, fruit drinks, V-8 splash, and fruit sorbets. FATS: Fats are important because they help with absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K which are building blocks for healthy skin and normal hormone function. Have only 2 servings a day, and don't go over your limit of fat per meal. 1 teaspoon canola or olive oil; 1 teaspoon margarine; 2 teaspoons diet margarine; 1 tablespoon low fat mayonnaise or salad dressing; 1/8 or 1 oz. of an avocado; 8-10 large olives; 6 almonds or cashews; 10 peanuts; 4 pecan halves; 2 teaspoons natural peanut butter; 1 tablespoon sesame seeds; 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds; 2 teaspoons tahini paste. Limit regular butter, mayo and salad dressing. Do not use at all - bacon grease, shortening, lard or regular peanut butter. I hope this helps you choose your foods wisely and gives you something to go on! Good luck!!
   — Sharon H.

January 17, 2002
At my 8 week check up I had only lost 13 pounds in that entire time. The doc said cut the carbs and increase the protien. I did some soul searching and realized how much bread, pasta, pizza, chips, beans and rice I had been eating without much or any protien. Now I have taken a serious look and the carb count of many foods and was shocked!!! Of course I dont do simple carbs like sugared stuff, and now I severely limit my complex carb to one serving a day. If you feel comfortable with your food choices and can keep a good balance of protien and carbs than you should be fine. I did not mix it up enough and actually ate too much.... So I think of the complex carbs that none are bad persay as long as you stick to the serving size recommended by your doc. My best to you!
   — Pamela W.