Substitute Teaching, Part 1

Establishing a new eating pattern is a major lifestyle change, and it works best when you discover new and delicious ways to meet your nutritional needs rather than imitating your old diet. For example, pasta and sandwiches can be replaced with meat, vegetables, and interesting salads. But food is central to our cultures and behavior — certain foods make us happy and remind us of celebrations past. Hence the popularity of "comfort food," just like Mom made it.

So while we recommend recreating your meals instead of substituting for the old ones, we'll be providing suggestions for delicious substitutes for popular foods, many of which are gluten-laden disasters. We're starting a "Sub Board" at DNA, where you can write down foods you want to substitute, and answers will magically show up for all to see and share. Three examples follow — and for a fourth, see LeeAat's mini pizzas with cauliflower crusts!

1. Spaghetti

Let's start easy: spaghetti squash is a GREAT sub for spaghetti. It has 10g of carbs per cup, about 1g of protein, and trace fat. According to Livestrong, it also has omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

It's easy to cook — just cut it in half, lay the halves face down on a cookie sheet, and bake for about 30 minutes at 400°F. Let it cool a bit, flip it over, and scrape it out with a fork. LOAD with a meat and tomato sauce, or anything else that works with your macros. Nom nom!

2. Zucchini carbonara

My kids LOVE this stuff! Take a peeler and make long, flat strips out of 2 medium zucchini. Sauté with 2 oz of pancetta (or bacon) — I get mine at Trader Joe's. While it's cooking, mix 1 egg yolk with 2–4 tablespoons of heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk — start in the middle (3T) and adjust to taste next time you make it. When the zucchini is tender and the pancetta is cooked, remove from heat and stir in the sauce. Add pepper and enjoy!

3. Bread

Finally, an amazing paleo bread recipe from Elana Amsterdam, the queen of gluten-free baking. The recipe is here and also below. I just made this and it vanished fast — we made French toast with it this morning, and it was delicious, especially topped with prickly pear syrup made in house!

Paleo Bread

• 1½ cups blanched almond flour (Trader Joe's)
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour (Amazon sells this)
• ¼ cup golden flaxseed meal (Sprouts or Whole Foods)
• ¼ teaspoon Celtic sea salt
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• 5 eggs
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon honey (less works)
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Directions:

• Place almond flour, coconut flour, flax, salt, and baking soda in a food processor
• Pulse ingredients together
• Pulse in eggs, oil, honey, and vinegar
• Pour batter into a greased 7.5" × 3.5" loaf pan — it won't rise as well in a bigger pan
• Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes
• Cool and serve

Bon appétit!

Next time: mashed "potatoes" and other great uses for one simple ingredient...