Dessert "Rules"

[rosie321]

I have to make a birthday cake for someone so I've been perusing all the low-carb dessert recipes out there. I want to make sure that I'm not cheating though.

As far as the ingrediants go, they have to match what rung you're on, right? So for example, no chocolate or almond flour until rung 3? No sugar-free strawberry jam until rung 4?

And I'm confused about how much is an appropriate amount of Splenda in a recipe. We're allowed 3 packets/day = 2 Tbsp "bulk splenda", right? So as long as the per serving amount of Splenda is less than 2 Tbsp, that should be "legal"?

Are there any other factors that I should keep in mind when picking out a recipe?

Thanks a bunch!

[Georgiana]

Re: Dessert "Rules"

As far as the ingrediants go, they have to match what rung you're on, right? So for example, no chocolate or almond flour until rung 3? No sugar-free strawberry jam until rung 4?

Exactly.

And I'm confused about how much is an appropriate amount of Splenda in a recipe. We're allowed 3 packets/day = 2 Tbsp "bulk splenda", right? So as long as the per serving amount of Splenda is less than 2 Tbsp, that should be "legal"?

That's right. Assuming you only eat one serving.

Are there any other factors that I should keep in mind when picking out a recipe?

You will need to get most of your carbs from veggies. So, even if the recipe is perfectly "legal" for your OWL rung, keep an eye on the other non-veggie carbs you eat that day.

Since you are on OWL Rung 2, I imagine you are not going to use more diary than you are allowed... so that shouldn't be an issue.

Can't think of anything else....

[not2late]

Re: Dessert "Rules"

I have to make a birthday cake for someone so I've been perusing all the low-carb dessert recipes out there. I want to make sure that I'm not cheating though.

As far as the ingrediants go, they have to match what rung you're on, right? So for example, no chocolate or almond flour until rung 3? No sugar-free strawberry jam until rung 4?

And I'm confused about how much is an appropriate amount of Splenda in a recipe. We're allowed 3 packets/day = 2 Tbsp "bulk splenda", right? So as long as the per serving amount of Splenda is less than 2 Tbsp, that should be "legal"?

Are there any other factors that I should keep in mind when picking out a recipe?

Thanks a bunch!

The daily sugar substitute amount of 3 servings/packets doesn't change from Induction, through OWL, through Pre-Maintenance to Maintenance Phases. In another of his books, Dr. A. said that our ultimate goal is to be added-sugar free and artificial sweetener/sugar substitute free. He viewed the use of sugar substitutes as a way to get off sugar.....sorta like how they use methadone to get off heroine.

you are correct that the ingredients of whatever you eat need to be legal for your phase of Atkins. During OWL and Pre-Maintenance, that means the ingredients need to be legal for your Rung of the Carbohydrate Ladder and that they have to be in OWL or Pre-Maintenance amounts.