I need online sources for products

[Missy]

that I can't find. Like liquid sucrolose? And varies other products used in low carb recipes. I go to a local health food store, but, with the cost of gas...:rolleyes: I don't feel like making that trip only to be confused as to what I need. Since this is all newish to me, it doesn't take long before I am confused. If I had a reliable source online, I think it would be easier.

I do try to support my local grocery stores, but, let's face it, they aren't going to have ALOT of these specialty things...or the "phase" of products has noticable been reduced...such as Atkins stuff that I once found.

Thanks in advance!

[Gaelen]

Lynn, I don't do much online ordering of foods (although those crab cakes on QVC always look tempting...) but www.netrition.com has a pretty good reputation for offering a wide inventory and having fair shipping rates.

[Inez]

Netrition is really wonderful. They don't have everything you might be looking for but their selection is really good and they're open to suggestions. They have great sales and the best part (since you mentioned the high cost of gas) is the flat rate shipping -- I think it's $4.95 or $5.95 per shipment and it comes within about five days.

[Missy]

Thanks! I knew I saw that link in another post, but? I never saved it to my favorites. I have now.

Thanks for the referral Inez. Half the time you don't know whats a good source or not. I know I'd be more experimental if I had ingredients on hand.

What are some of the ingredients that you all more experienced members like?

[Relief]

here is the link to Sweetzfree-- http://www.sweetzfree.com/index.html to get your liquid sucralose. ( the next order date is May 10th. It is a bit of a hassle to get this, but totally worth it--wait by your computer and get on exactly at the time stated. I have always gotten my order when I do that. A four ounce bottle lasts me up to six months or more, and I cook with it a LOT, so don't let the price scare you)

I do a lot of low carb baking/dessert making so:

Things I couldn't live without: almond flour both regular (with skins) and blanched and xylitol, a good tasting whey protein powder, oat flour, powdered egg whites and xanthan gum. most of these I get at my local health food store but are also available at netrition


things that are nice to have if you want to experiment with baking: carbquick bake mix, carbolose flour, inulin, resistant wheat starch, wheat protien isolate, vital wheat gluten, polydextrose. all of these you can get at netrician.

the last thing I HAVE to have around is chocolate and this is the BEST, bar none!!!
http://www.lowcarbspecialties.com/choco_bars.html

I do not use many convenience products-- lo carb tortillas occasionally and no sugar added ketchup are about it.

I'm sura others will have additional thoughts too--this could be a great resource thread!

[kevinpa]

Were I live is rather a backwards area in the way of carrying LC items. For this reason and for some good web sites I have found with reasonable shipping I have been finding that it is cheaper to shop online than drive around looking for what I need locally. Especially with the price of gas the way it is. As Gaelen mentioned www.netrition.com (http://www.netrition.com) is a well round, reasonable priced, and reliable in shipping and customer service. When it come to certain grain and baking products though I use Honeyville Grains (http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=288&SetPageSize=50). They have the same kind of reputation as netrition. They also offer more bulk prices than other sites.

Between these 2 site I can usually find 95% of my LC needs that I can not find locally.

[kevinpa]

A four ounce bottle lasts me up to six months or more, and I cook with it a LOT, so don't let the price scare you)

I agree with this 100% and the carb saving with sweetzfree in certain baking application can be amazing.

[Missy]

:D Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D :D

I'm all for being adventurous...but all of these strange sounding ingredience HAD scared me (in a way)...but with your experiences I'll be less inclined to give them a try.

Keep the information a comin!!!! :D (Where's a bouncy green smilie guy when you need one?!)

[Missy]

$64 dollars!!! GULP!!!!...but, okay, I'll take a leap of faith!!!!!! May 10th, got it!!!!

[BethB]

www.homebistro.com (http://www.homebistro.com) has good frozen lc meals. Great for when the kids insist on pizza.

I get almond meal and other nut flours from www.bobsredmill.com (http://www.bobsredmill.com).

[Gaelen]

Since I live alone (which means I'm usually only cooking for one), I buy the things I use for low carb cooking in bulk when I find them, as long as I can store them adequately. I'm also pretty hooked on getting my things locally (so I can take it back without paying shipping if it's awful.) Although I'll admit that my town is part of a 250,000 person metro-area with two major east coast supermarket chains (Wegmans and Price Chopper), one smaller chain (P & C, owned by Penn Traffic), Aldi's, BJ's, Sam's, and the odd super Walmart, there really is only one decent health food store (Natur-Tyme) and a food co-op that can be spotty at best. There are also a couple of Asian grocery stores, and an Italian specialty market, where I can go for some specialty things.

However, when I look at my 'low carb' ingredients, they are to an item straight off the shelves of the local Wegmans or PChop, or even the P&C. Most are in the 'health foods' section, but many are right in the regular aisles.

For instance:
-- kefir (Wegmans Nature's Pantry refrigerated case...or the health food store)
-- dry curd farmer's cheese (all supermarkets dairy cases, or the local farmers market)
-- powdered egg whites (all supermarkets, in the baking aisle...look for 'Just Whites' in a little can near the unflavored Knox gelatin)
-- ground almonds (Bob's Red Mill items are carried in all local supermarkets. BRM sells 1 lb. packages; Wegmans has the cheapest price on their stuff.)
-- whole and ground flax seeds (Bob's Red Mill--see ground almonds, above)
-- oat flour (Bob's Red Mill, once again)
-- Vital wheat gluten (BRM, or Hodgson's Mill, both available right next to the regular flours in all the local supermarkets
-- dessicated dried coconut, which use as is or grind to make a finer coconut flour (Wegmans, and Natur-tyme...guess who's cheaper? ;))
-- besan/or chickpea flour (actually, Bob's Red Mill sells this, too...but it's cheaper in the ethnic/Indian foods aisle in Wegmans, or from the Asian grocery)
-- black soybeans (Eden organic, canned, are in all three supermarkets, and the dried ones are available at Wegmans, and at the Asian grocery.)
-- canned coconut milk (ethnic aisles in Wegmans, Mexican foods aisles in PChop and P&C)
-- protein powders (Wegmans and the other supermarkets carry them; now and then I pick up some vanilla whey powder from Wegmans. The health food store is WAY overpriced. I don't like Walmart's brands, but every Walmart carries them. All of the local malls have GNC stores; I get most of my protein powders there.)
--sweeteners: I can get any variant of stevia (leaf, liquid, steviaPlus) from Wegmans health food aisles or the other supermarkets' vitamin/supplements aisles...but I grow a stevia plant for fresh leaves, and I only keep a little SteviaPlus in packets on hand for times I want to test a recipe with Stevia. I can also get xylitol from the health food store, and erythritol, but since I don't use them, I don't really buy them. I can also get unrefined or minimally processed dark sugars like date sugar, muscovado or rapadura or turbinado sugar in the health food aisles at all three supermarkets, and grade B maple syrup and grade B or comb organic honey from local farmers at the year-round farmer's market. When I'm going to add sweetness, I typically go for small quantities of dark, minimally refined natural sugars, aiming to keep the added ECC from sweeteners under 1g per serving (about 4 calories.) I also occasionally use things like Brownulated or confectioner's sugar (3g ECC per tsp vs. white sugar's 5g ECC).
-- condiments: I either make my own or use supermarket shelf stuff that doesn't have transfats or HFCS. Heinz ORGANIC ketchup is HFCS-free. All of the Dinosaur BBQ sauces are on plan (except maybe the Honey BBQ...that's too carby.) Check your mustard labels...it's pretty easy to find a HFCS and transfat free version of dijon or grainy/seed mustard (Plochman's comes to mind, also Heinz and I think even Nance's and Guldens).
-- Davinci and other sugar free flavored syrups: the most popular flavors show up in Marshall's and TJMaxx's specialty foods aisles all the time.

If you take a shopping trip to your local store and spend a little time doing homework in the aisles, you may find that you can get a lot of perfectly on-plan things right in the regular or natural foods/health foods aisles, without sending away at all. Yep, gas is expensive, but you've got to go to the store for perishables and butter, extra virgin olive oil and heavy cream, too. Might as well get the other stuff...it's no more expensive if it's all in one trip a week. When I need things that are only at one store, I make a once a month trip to that store, getting the unique items and the perishables, too. OTOH, I'm in Wegmans every week, whether I need to be there or not...they have a great coffee bar. ;)

[LisaS]

you don't need to buy 4oz of sweetzfree at once - I bought the 1 oz size this last window (4/20) just to try it out and see how it acted in things I usually make and to try it in some baking. So far I like it and will buy more next time.

(The 1oz bottle does look a little like the larger bottles we used to use to test the chemicals in the pool though - I guess these types make a consistant accurate drop. )

[Missy]

GREAT ADVICE GAELEN!!!! I just have to be more aware of my local sources....I know that one of our health food stores would more then likely have many of these things but, quite expensive. I really appreciate everyone's input.

I also have another health suppliment store that carries a bit of these things, I bet if I ask her she can special order stuff if she doesn't already carry it...and she usually gives discounts! I'd like to keep it "local"...but I don't want to grow frustrated or pay out the nose. Thanks for the tips.

I don't mind Heinz's low carb ketchup. What is HFCS?

Lisa, I might do as you suggest now that I think about it, and maybe buy two smaller bottles. One for at home, and one for the camper. Having to buy it in a buying window makes it EXCITING!!!!!! :D lol

[Relief]

HFCS= high fructose corn syrup: avoid at all costs

[Missy]

Got it!!!! I do.

[Missy]

As an update to these suggestions....I went today with list in hand in trying to locate some of these products...and well...I ended up with finding UNSWEETENED COCONUT. Period.:rolleyes: lol...

oh, and Kefir...here I thought I bought a "plain" flavor...and it ended up being rasberry. lol I had no idea what it "was"..and I thought it would be the consistancy of milk...and it's more like yogert. I don't mind that it's rasberry now. I can see why some of you use it in your Protein Powder drinks. I will give that a try too.

Anyways, I've decided that I'm not going to mess around shopping, unless I get nearer to the health food store accrossed town..and just end up ordering most of these things. :cool:

I found alot of the Red Mill "stuff"...but it wasn't any items I recognized as suggested, or even being used in recipes that I've looked over. :rolleyes: But, I'm not giving up. I gotta make that PIE recipe!!! I just GOTTA!!! lol

I did find the Crisco "green" that Kevin mentioned too.

I must say, keeping myself busy on a scavenger hunt at the grocery store...kept me away from being tempted for other things! :D

Oh...and I did find Farmer's cheese...and I didn't write down what Gaelen said...."dry curd"....and ended up with sliced farmer's cheese...lol...:D I don't think THATS what you meant!!! ...but, it's a nice cheese anyways! lol Is farmer's cheese like goat cheese???

[Missy]

Come to think of it...I think I'll just hire a scientist to come to my house...and feed me a bottle of just the "stuff" I need....I'm getting envious of those mice. :D ~ it'd be soooooo much easier! :D

[Gaelen]

From Missy:
Oh...and I did find Farmer's cheese...and I didn't write down what Gaelen said...."dry curd"....and ended up with sliced farmer's cheese...lol... I don't think THATS what you meant!!! ...but, it's a nice cheese anyways! lol Is farmer's cheese like goat cheese???

Missy, farmer's cheese is the consistency of very dry cottage cheese or very dry ricotta; all the whey has been pressed/drained out.

Careful of the raspberry kefir, though...like fruit flavored yogurt, it will have sugar added, so you'll only be able to eat a small portion of it. Still, it will have its place in your shake receipes, and a splash of it will make great pancakes. I usually get low fat PLAIN kefir...blue label if it's Lifeway, with no fruit decorating the label (and no added sugar...)

[Missy]

Yeah, that's what I thought too...limited amount. I thought I grabbed the right one, obviously I didn't!

[Missy]

I just wanted to update this thread.

I bought most...no, just about ALL of the "suggested" ingredients...and they are "on their way"!!!! How exciting!!!!! :D

[Belfrybat]

Missy -- I just noticed your weight loss -- way to go! :D I just placed an order with Netrition also and am looking forward to it arriving so I have a larger selection of ingredients on hand, especially since Kevin is my new best friend with LC pastry and biscuits that taste and have the mouth feel of the real thing.

If you purchased Carbalose flour be aware that it is much saltier than regular flour so adjust salt accordingly. It also has a real off-odor when you are working with it. But with adding resistant starch, vital wheat gluten or wheat protein isolate to it really improves the taste.

[Missy]

Thank you for your tips Belfry! I was wondering what all of this is going to taste like...and I'm SURE I'll have a billion questions....and THAT KEVIN...why, he is a new BEST FRIEND isn't he? LOL :D

As for my weightloss...Thanks! :D I wish it were "more"...but I've been rereading the Eades's book and with the guidance from this board, I'm very patient about it..and I am "losing" all over the place...so I'm keeping the faith..and besides, it really doesn't matter (okay, I lied, it does..lol) because this is my new way of eating and I'm in it for the long haul. It will all come off eventually! Thanks for your encouragement!!!

Now...back to this threads subject....I'm going to be asking specific questions about these certain ingredients....such as the RESISTANT STARCH 5000 stuff I ordered? What does it do exactly. What's the difference between that and the 8000??

Yes, I will refer back to the Netrition site's information, but I like "real" people answers too.