Carbohydrates are our bodies’ main source of energy and are important for brain function. Many people get confused as to just what a carb is and think of carbohydrates as only being grains, breads etc. However please remember the group also includes fruits and vegetables and the last thing we want to limit is vegetables. Vegetables should be the staple of any eating plan.

On the DietDitch programme we advise you to eat only desirable grain based carbohydrates and in moderation, not as the staple of your meal. But how do we tell the difference between the desirable and the undesirable?

Brown is Best

When choosing a carbohydrate based food (this includes fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, and sweet potato) it is important to make smart choices.

• Choose unprocessed
• Choose brown as in rice, pasta and breads
• Choose a product with the most whole grains as possible if we are talking cereals and bread

Desirable

• Fruits and Vegetables
• Brown Rice
• Lentils, Chickpeas and Beans
• Wholegrain Bread
• Bran
• Oats
• Wholemeal Pasta

Undesirable

• White Bread
• Muffins
• Biscuits/Cookies
• White Flour Products
• Cakes
• White Pasta
• Couscous

If in doubt choose the most NATURAL product possible.

Why Choose Desirable?

Desirable carbohydrates are generally high in fibre and will help keep you fuller for longer while providing your body and your brain with vital energy to enable you to get through the day.

Undesirable carbohydrates, those gooey, starch things we sometimes love(or use to think we loved), usually have little or no nutritional value and will in fact have the opposite effect on how you feel, giving you an instant unsustainable high.

However often starchy foods give us that comfort when we feel we need it – does the term ‘PIG OUT’ strike a chord anyone? So if you feel you need that comfort that is fine – you just have to learn to make the correct choices for you.

That is why we have the ‘just need something’ list and later on when you are in maintenance we will give you some recipes for those JNS moments.

JNS List:

• Air popped pop corn
• Small scone/biscuit
• Low fat popsicle
• Bran muffin