No-Carb Breakfast

We have always been warned against carbs, and those of us on a weight loss regime avoid them like the plague. However, we are usually warned against simple carbs - white/refined foods such as bread, pasta, bagels, donuts, etc. This is because the energy provided by these carbohydrates is burned up quickly, leaving us hungry within a short span of time; this may cause us to eat more simple carbs, and this is what causes weight gain. Simple carbs also cause a sudden sugar spike in the body that can affect insulin levels and eventually result in the development of diabetes. Popular diets such as the Atkins Diet and the South Beach Diet promote the complete avoidance of carbohydrates in order to attain weight loss.

Upon following a low-carbohydrate diet, it is likely that you may tire of the regular options for breakfast. Moreover, if you aren't permitted to consume carbohydrates at all, it becomes all the more difficult. So here are some great ideas on no-carb breakfast recipes that you can enjoy.

No-Carb Breakfast Ideas

Given below is a list of no-carb foods that you can combine to make delightful creations for a healthy no-carb breakfast.

• Eggs: Scrambled, poached, omelets, hard-boiled
• Vegetables: Grilled, raw, soups, stir-fried
• Fruits: Raw, smoothies, with cheese/peanut butter
• Nuts: pecans, almonds, walnuts with salads/milk, crushed in a bowl of oatmeal or with yogurt
• Meat: Salmon, tuna, ham, turkey, chicken, lean beef/lamb/pork

With this list in place, let's look at how you can combine some of these foods to make delicious, filling breakfasts.

• Sausage, Cheese and Egg Roll - In a lettuce leaf, place an omelet made in very little oil, sprinkle some ricotta cheese, place a sausage in the center, and roll the leaf to enjoy a delicious breakfast.
• Vegetable Frittata - Prepare a frittata with a choice of your vegetables, which can include tomatoes, jalapenos, bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and any other vegetable that you like. You may also want to sprinkle some cheese on it to give it a little more flavor.
• Berry Smoothie - Blend a cup of low-fat yogurt (unflavored) with berries of your choice, and add a few other fruits such as apples if you like. You are sure to feel full all through the morning.
• Grilled Chicken Breast - What sounds like a lunch option can also be a breakfast option, considering breakfasts are supposed to be heavier than the remaining meals in the day. Marinate a chicken breast with herbs of your choice, drizzle with a little olive oil, and grill to enjoy. You can also have a side of grilled vegetables such as peppers or broccoli with this breakfast.
• Turkey Ham Rolls - Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on a slice of turkey ham, and fill the center with apple slices, or diced cucumbers and tomatoes, roll it up, and enjoy.
• Milk and Nuts - If you're looking for a quick breakfast where you don't have much to do, simply have a glass of milk with a handful of nuts. This is one breakfast that is sure to keep you going up to lunch. You can also blend together the nuts with milk and add a teaspoon of honey for some flavor to make a healthy shake.
• Peanut Butter with Fruit - Spread a layer of raw, natural peanut butter on apple slices to have a healthy breakfast. On the other hand, you can do the same with celery sticks and have a healthy, crunchy breakfast.
• Scrambled Tofu with Vegetables - Those of you who are sick of eggs can find an alternative with scrambled tofu, that you can stir fry with vegetables of your choice. Think of bell peppers, bok choy, spinach, onions, tomatoes and the like.
• Fruit and Cottage Cheese - A great breakfast that will even take care of your sweet tooth is a combination of cottage cheese and fruit. Either scramble some cottage cheese and add it to a fruit salad, or place strawberry/cantaloupe/apple slices on slices of cottage cheese and enjoy.
• Cottage Cheese with Vegetables - Grill slices of cottage cheese and place on them slices of cucumber, tomatoes, onions, or capsicum, season with salt and pepper, and enjoy.
• Oatmeal - Not everyone enjoys oatmeal but it makes for a great breakfast if you add nuts, ground flax seed, and a few berries to the meal. It makes for a wholesome breakfast that keeps you going up to lunch.
• No-Carb Breakfast Casserole - For this you will require ten to twelve eggs, twelve ounces of grated cheddar cheese, four ounces of chopped green chillies salt and pepper. Take a buttered pan and spread the grated cheese. Now spread the chillies evenly over the cheese. In a bowl, beat the eggs and add salt and pepper to taste. Pour the mixture over the cheese and green chillies and bake the casserole for about 25 to 50 minutes at about 350 degrees. When it is done cut into squares and serve.

Enjoy these no-carb breakfast ideas and recipes without any pangs of guilt. However, do remember that complex carbohydrates are healthy for consumption and may be enjoyed during the day in the form of whole grain breakfast cereal, multi-grain bread/pasta, brown rice and the like. Also remember that just because your breakfast is meant to be low in carbohydrates it cannot be high in fat. Keep the protein levels in mind and think of healthy fats (olive oil, milk, nuts) that you can consume, instead of using butter and other oils to cook your breakfast in.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only and does not, in any way, intend to replace the advice of an expert.