I’ve always likened myself to that age-old saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” I mean, clearly I am a world class chef, an award-winning author, and a Grammy-winning singer. But there is one thing that I just cannot master: Photographing food. It’s the worst, I’m the worst. So, while you read this post, forgive my horrendous attempt at creating photographs of food you’d actually want to eat, and trust my opinion that the food is indeed edible, and in fact, quite delicious.

After we returned from our holiday vacation, B and I decided we needed to cut back on our diets. The guacamole and tortilla chips we gorged on in Mexico every day were just not going to cut it for our abs. Or lack there of. So I came up with the idea to cut out all processed carbs for a few weeks. No bread, rice, pasta, etc. Of course we still ate carrots, veggies, and I could never get rid of my salad dressing; but for the most part, we really took on this challenge. I thought I’d share some meal suggestions, in case you think you’d like to give it a shot. Take note: even though we cut out carbs, we still ate a LOT of food. I’m a fat-kid. No half sized portions work here. Double note: I HATE detailed recipes. So while I could have found much more intricate meals, I stuck to easy. This girl does not want difficult recipes after an 11 hour work day thank you very much.Here’s where you can stop reading if you’re totally not interested in jumping off the cliff that is carb-free. Just because I jumped off the cliff, doesn’t mean you have to follow. Your parents would be so proud.

Also, something worth mentioning. I don’t use oil in hardly anything I cook. I have an amazing non-stick pan, that allows me to forgo any sort of oil. So in Shauna terms, “saute” actually means “cook in a skillet.”

1. Essentially, chicken fajitas without the tortillas. I did not use fajita seasoning either, just sauteed peppers/onions/chicken in a skillet, served with a little chipotle sauce on top. Delicious (and even better with avocado)!

2. Taco salad, or Chicken Tostadas, without the tostada.

3. Baked Mahi-Mahi. I made an avocado salsa to top it off: avocado, chopped grape tomatoes, chopped red onion. Mix with lime juice.

4. Baked zucchini (side dish, serve with grilled chicken, fish, or steak). This recipe calls for parmesan, but I skipped it.

5. Stuffed Peppers. I  sort of  made up my own recipe for this, but there are tons online. I just used more meat, more veggies, and more tomatoes to substitute for the rice I typically use.

6. OMG. Baked Cauliflower and Broccoli (and Brussel Sprouts if you like them). This was a huge hit in our house. B doesn’t like these veggies normally, but when baked, he couldn’t get enough. Start with either of these two recipes: Cauliflower or Broccoli.

7. Side dish of sauteed veggies. Carrots, onions, zucchini. Serve with chicken, fish, or steak.

8. My famous favorite salad. Take a romaine lettuce heart, cut it in half. Sprinkle red onion, diced grape tomatoes, and avocado on top. And if you love it like I do, add cilantro too! We typically have one before every meal.

9. Pot roast. I made a roast like I always do, but skipped adding potatoes. Roast, carrots, celery, and onions all the way.

10. Side dish of mushrooms, zucchini, green peppers, and onions. Perfect with a steak (header photo).

11. One of B’s favorites: Steak roll-ups. If you’re an avid Pinterest-er, you’ve seen this pinned many times. But trust me, it’s fabulous. Try it. Side note: that blogger clearly is an amazing food photographer. Jealous!

12. Not pictured, but AMAZING. This is by far my most favorite new recipe. Shrimp with zucchini and tomatoes. I highly suggest it.

Because I cannot go an hour without eating something, we snacked on Greek yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, veggies, and almonds between meals. I typically cooked dinner for four, and then we each took a serving for lunch the next day.

Tell me, what is your favorite carb-free recipe?