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Invited friends for dinner but found out they are doing the Adkins diet. What does one prepare for their dinner? I just thought if I could, I would prepare something along those lines. They said not to worry about it, however.

Atkins is a high-protein, low-carb diet. So, you could prepare virtually anything you want: steak, fish, chicken, pork, veal, shellfish, etc.

Vegetables, leafy greens and vegetable proteins such as beans are also part of the diet. As are vegetable oils and good fats like avocados or nuts.

Anything with a lot of carbs (especially those made from white flour and with a high sugar content) are limited. Even certain fresh fruits with high sugar content. Red wine in moderation is OK.

Atkins has moved away from an over-reliance on high-fat animal-based foods, which is why there was so much controversy surrounding the Atkins regimen when it was first introduced.

I think your guests will be just fine with whatever you serve. And, if they want to indulge in some non-Atkins "goodies," that is their choice.

I don't know if it is like the Atkins of old what they can eat depends on how far along in the program they are.

I hope they are close friends, if I were in the early days of a specific food regime I would decline invitations to dine in someone's home until I had a better feel for what I can and can't have and not be a burden on my friends by having them cater to me and my chosen dietary limitations.

Meat, green vegetables, no starch, no bread or pasta will keep them on track.
Fruit like mixed berries for dessert.

Charming - we're good friends and we can work out the menu together. It doesn't seem too burdensome. Kinda like what we eat. Except I like my carbs.

Think I would go with broiled fish served with lemon on a bed of lettuce, cheesy broculli-califlower for the vegetable and a wilted Spinach salad topped with strawberries and walnuts with a bacon dressing (with bacon bits) on the side and a few dinner rolls as well~ they can skip them if they want! For dessert? Fresh peaches with a carmelized sauce served over vanilla ice cream - non-fat, of course!

The biggest challenge on the Atkins diet is dessert. Anything containing sugar is a NO-NO but one could serve a cheese and fruit platter and your guests can choose the amount of fruit to indulge in. One thing that is very good is an egg custard using stevia as sweetener. Stevia is the only healthy and no-carb sugar substitute there is and in custards it works fine. You won't be able to do creme brulee because the caramelized sugar is not allowed on the diet but individual custards can be garnished with mint leaves and some fruit.

One thing you can do is serve sugar free chocolate pudding. I've also done a pumpkin mousse -- (I think pumpkin is okay) -- a box of instant sugar free vanilla pudding mixed according to package directions, a can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling but just pumpkin) mixed in and then a tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice. Mix well and chill. Whip cream, add sweetener and layer pumpkin, whipped cream, pumpkin, whipped cream into parfait glasses and sprinkle the top with some chopped walnuts.

I served it at a dinner party where we had a diabetic. EVERYONE had the same dessert and no one but the diabetic guest knew that it wasn't a regular dessert.

Martha

all of your ideas sound wonderful. I especially like the pumpkin dessert, Martha.

Thank you all.

Idaho: you sound like a wonderful cook. What kind of fish? Do you mean you squirt the lemon over it after it's cooked?
I need a lil help (recipes or "how to's")
with the rest of your suggestions It all sounds so fancy.
Can I prepare any of it in advance?

cheesy brocolli-califlower
wilted Spinach salad topped with strawberries and walnuts with a bacon dressing (with bacon bits)
Fresh peaches with a carmelized sauce served over vanilla ice cream -