What Is a Low-Carb Diet?

Since low-carbohydrate diets have taken America by storm, it was only natural that cookbooks would follow. First came The Low-Carb Cookbook, succeeded by Living Low-Carb, both by Fran McCullough, an avowed foodie and award-winning cookbook editor. Struggling to keep her own weight down, McCullough was led to a low-carb diet, which suited her to a T. In her quest for meal-time pleasure without plumpness, she put together a collection of more than 250 recipes for 1997's The Low-Carb Cookbook. The book was an instant success and best seller. Living Low-Carbfollowed in 2000, which contains more explanation and adds 175 recipes.

McCullough's later book explains the differences between the most stringent low-carb diet plans and the more liberal ones that she favors. She then outlines how to adapt the latter group of diets to fit a pleasure-eater's perspective. Rather than a "diet" book, Living Low-Carb is more of a lifestyle and self-help guide with recipes for everything from home fries to Moroccan-styled chicken to what she calls Intense Chocolate Cake.

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McCullough dismisses the raft of objections to the low-carb diet by the nutritional establishment, but she does note that for some people this type of routine is not ideal. She discusses the particular needs of diabetics, those with low-thyroid function (her own condition), and includes caveats for thosepregnant or nursing. Living Low-Carb is full of motivational suggestions, as well as practical ones for stocking the pantry, eating on the road, in restaurants, and at the homes of friends, and finally how to deal with a dieter's bete noir, the sweet tooth.

She encourages exercise, not because it will make you lose fat, but because it's good for you, and she gives you more than a dozen reasons why you should.

How the Low-Carb Diet Works

McCullough gives you lots of choices, because neither Living Low-Carb nor The Low-Carb Cookbook is a diet book as such. The recipes are for everything from canapes to desserts. However, she does present a basic plan for low-carb eating:

• Have protein at every meal -- about one-half gram of protein for every pound of your ideal weight, typically somewhere between 60 to 85 grams unless you're very large or very small.
• For weight loss, keep the carbs low, anywhere from zero to 30 grams daily.
• Choose whole foods, organic if possible, and raw, ideally. The more fiber, the better.
• Avoid nearly everything white -- potatoes, rice, bread, flour, sugar, popcorn. Of course, this doesn't include cauliflower, turnips, or giant white radishes.
• Eat fruit at breakfast, particularly low-carb fruits, such as berries, melon, peaches, kiwi. Half a banana is all you get.
• Although you are allowed cream and butter, save it for treats, and cut down on them if you are trying to lose weight. Choose cold-pressed olive and nut oils, and avoid processed oils, partially hydrogenated fats, and margarine.
• Eat dinner early and make it minimal.