Soleil, I quite agree that it's important to read the package. And some curries are better options than others. Obviously the ones that don't come with rice are better (since we skip the rice anyway!). As an example, Aashiayana chicken tikka masala is 11.5g carbs and 12.5g fat per 500g. And the other curries in that range aren't much more. I did find an even better list of frozen curries you can buy online but I can't recall the name of them. Arrgh!

Ah, I found it! Here's the nutrition info for Elliott Bateman curries: http://www.menumaker.co.nz/page.asp?PageID=1318#Nutritionalanalysis

There are also a lot of 'potato' type foods in the freezer dept. of supermarket like frozen mashed potatoes (with added butter, milk fat and of course, additives); hash browns (which are fried) and the latest - potato balls rolled in breadcrumbs with parmesan cheese added. Quite a trap for busy working people!

I eat the occasional 'nuked' spud in it's jacket but can anybody help me with low fat/low calorie toppings? as I find it difficult without sour cream, cheese and butter.

Hi Soleil,

Want to ditch the sour cream? Use plain YOGHURT instead. We have used it for years at home, and when we are in restaurants, etc., where we have to use sour cream, I find it still very hard to distinguish the difference (and yes there is a small difference, the yoghurt has a little different texture).

Onions or chives, and some simulated bacon bits overcomes the need for butter or margerine and keeps the fat at a minimum.

The nutrition in a potato is indeed the jacket, so I often carve out some, or most, of the white centre and put the yoghurt, chives, and bits on the jacket.

Happy day, Gus

Thanks for that Gus. The jacketed potato made with natural yoghurt (Easy Yo, the stuff we can make ourselves) tasted just the same as having light sour cream in - great! Actually I thought the yoghurt would taste sour, but it wasn't at all.
And I used an older, red potato. Somone said that the older, waxier potato has less starch in that a fresh new potato such as a Nadine. Wonder if that's true?

Ho Soleil,

I hadn't heard that older red potatoes were better one way or the other, I have just always had a preference for them over whites.

The older potatoes may have less starch (hadn't heard that one either), but whether it is starch, sugar, or one of the sugars ending in -ose (fructose, lactose, sucrose, glucose, etc.), they are are all sugars metabolizing at far faster rates than say proteins.

So less starch may mean more sugars, which would be a saw-off IMO.

Happy day, Gus

LINSEED AND PEANUT BUTTER HOT CEREAL (for 1 person)

2 tablespoons Ground Linseed
1/4 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Pour boiling water over linseed and stir well. Stir in peanut butter and cinnamon. Variation - add a drop of liquid splenda or frozen berries or a little bit of milk/cream.

Recipe for: Mexican fajitas or taco lettuce wraps

Choose and prepare one or more of:
chicken breast, cut into small strips
steak (scotch fillet is fantastic for this - anything you can cook fast and it stays tender), cut into small strips
raw shrimps (frozen is fine; thaw before use, and split in half for even cooking)
low-fat beef or chicken mince
refried beans (you get these in a can)

Wash iceberg lettuce and drain (this is for wrapping)

Prepare small plates of any of the following:
grated cheese
chopped tomato
sliced jalapenos (buy them sliced in a jar)
chopped salad/greens
guacamole (mashed avocado with lemon juice, a dash of tabasco and a sprinkle of fajita powder)

Quickly stir-fry the meat/chicken/shrimp pieces - don't overcook. In the last few seconds, sprinkle with fajita or taco powder and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice - put into a small bowl when cooked. With the mince or refried beans, add to a pan and cook, then add the same flavourings above.

If you are eating with non-diabetics as well, microwave 3-4 soft tortillas each for them to wrap (you can buy white or wholemeal; corn tortillas are available for those on a gluten-free diet); those on a low-carb regime use lettuce as the wrap. Kids love this too!

Put all the bowls/plates of lettuce, tortillas (if any), veges and meat on the table. Everyone builds their own wrap. Enjoy!