Borrowed from Boston Magazine, this is the most diabolical photo I could find of Dr. David Ludwig.
After the excesses of the Fancy Food Show and the Super Bowl, I’m back on Dr. David Ludwig’s low-carb “Always Hungry?” diet. I had previously recommended Dr. Ludwig’s book to readers because it’s full of from-scratch recipes, perfect for the experimental cook. But I’ve become aware of a few eccentricities I feel obligated to pass along.
Watch out for portion size. Some of the recipes make one portion, some two (which is what the daily menus say they’re designed for), some four or more, and Dr. Ludwig doesn’t always tell you plus there’s often no indication how much you are supposed to eat at a sitting. Analyze before you cook and eat, and consider reducing some of the recipes by half (Black Bean Tofu Hash and Shepherd’s Pie are two good examples…. They are tasty but if you make the full recipe you’ll be eating it for weeks).
Follow the daily menus for a couple of days, then go rogue. Dr. Ludwig wants us to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, two snacks and a bedtime dessert. This is great because you’re constantly eating or thinking about eating. But the actual recipes are of uneven quality so don’t follow the daily recommendations to the letter. I cannot imagine there is a problem if you substitute trail mix (day 1) for cucumber and smoked salmon (day 2).
While you’re actually following the menus, take the long view. A big chicken salad with grapes is on deck for lunch at day two. Well and good, but it’s never mentioned again. What are we supposed to do with the leftovers? I ended up making fewer of the specified dishes and repeating them more often.
Cheat by peeking at the recipes in the back of the book. There are all kinds of preps suitable for Phase One (which is essentially carb-free) that are not included in his menus. Creamy cole slaw dressing, for example. We love our cole slaw and would be very happy to substitute it for one of the leafy sides.
Once you understand the rules, bring in your own players. Vincent’s Garlic Cole Slaw, for example, is fine for this diet as long as you prepare it with a mayo that does not contain sugar (make it from scratch, or buy a sugar-free version at a health food store). You probably have lots of other recipes in your repertoire that, with minor or no modifications, would have Dr. Ludwig doing backflips. Some of his dishes I’d swap out entirely are Eggplant Parmesan (his is like a weak ratatouille; ours is far better), Spinach Omelet (far too much veg causes the prep to fall apart) and Creamy Cauliflower Soup (like weak gruel, but vegan).
I feel better and I’m constantly involved with cooking and eating…. Hardly punishment. (Except for the lack of beer, of course.) Try these mods with your copy of Always Hungry? and I predict you’ll be happy as well.
P.S. Bonus tip: use this experience as an excuse to use all those weird spice blends you’ve been given/accumulated. I have some truly strange seasonings I’ve picked up at Fancy Food Shows, and I am reluctant to use them for everyday cooking because I wouldn’t be able to replicate the recipe. But since most of Dr. Ludwig’s concoctions you won’t be eating again, feel free to season away!
You mention Always Hungry as being low carb, then phase one as no carb, both of which are incorrect. The Always Hungry way of eating includes slow carbs in every meal. At first, I was calling it low carb, too, but after reading more of the book and spending some time in the official Always Hungry Facebook group, I understand why that’s wrong.
Thanks for the update, which we will check out. There’s a very serious Always Hungry group on FB and if you’re interested in this diet, getting involved is a good idea.