There is not much in life that is more special than the arrival of a new grandbaby. Hadley Grace Begun was born in Ottawa Canada on July 11th weighing 7 pounds and 11 ounces. With numbers like 7/11 and 7/11, Susan and I should have headed straight to the casino. Instead we were busy keeping the Queen Mother (our daughter Jennifer) and her court (Dad Ethan and sons Max and Dylan) fed.
The Queen’s Family Wants Low Carb
The key to meal planning at Jenn’s in Ottawa is low carb. There was a great article in the July 10, 2019 Wall Street Journal titled “Family Dinner Is Now A Battle Over Carbohydrates.” The essence of the article was that while cutting carbs has become a common dietary theme, there is still a broad spectrum of wants and needs when it comes to carbohydrates. Given different diets, (Low carb, veto, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, no dairy etc.) family meal planning can be a challenge. As I look back on the long list of diet fads over the last 40 years, low carb is definitely one with staying power. At Jenn’s, the emphasis is on protein and vegetables, while cutting back on bread, potatoes, pasta, rice and processed foods.
From a culinary standpoint, low carb is not that hard to manage, with a little planning and market options, it can be a lot of fun and downright tasty. Our menus for the week included:
Friday’s Menu
Saturday
Sunday
Note: Sushi was something Jenn missed during pregnancy so…
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Check out the recipes:
Friday
Eating low carb is certainly not deprivation. Welcoming a new grandchild was a real celebration. We had lots of fun, ate extremely well and worked very hard. Taking care of three grandchildren reminds you why you have kids when you are young.
Traditionally when writing supper club menus, I tend to include carbs. We figure that we get to be good during the week, so it is ok to splurge a little on the weekend with a supper club meal. When you get a little creative with low carb, you can eat healthy and no one will miss the carbs. And maybe, you can have an extra glass of wine to celebrate the arrival of “The Queen Of The North”.
On the way to the hospital, Jenn and E noting that things will change with THREE!
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