Hi all

Another new UKer here, de-lurking. 4 weeks into Atkins and 13 pounds down (very happy bunny). I'm off to the supermarket and was just wondering which aisle I'm most likely to find Xanthan Gum. Or else I might never come out and lose myself in the crisps aisle ;-)

Since I started shopping low-carb style, I never realised just how much of the supermarket shelves are given over to highly processed junk :-<

Cheers
Maxa

what is this used for by the way?

Hi maxa, pretty sure I've seen it in the free-from type aisle/ section - where they have all the gluten free and organic things etc. Warning, they will probably have some crisps in there!

I agree about all the junk food! On a postive note though - it takes me a quarter of the time to do my weekly shop!!

By the way - what is xanthan gum?

I believe its used for thickening gravys etc so I thought I'd give it a go. Successfully avoided the crisps and got one of those little smoked salmon/soft cheesy parcel things instead, yum.

I finding it longer to shop at the mo 'cause I'm double checking all my labels (it took about 10 different jars before I found a low-carb mint sauce - had to be the last one) ....

cheers
maxa

I stick to the veg and meat isles, pop up one for tins of tomatoes and spices. Then hurry to the check out! I find if I go round the others and start reading labels I'm more tempted- even if I find any goodies I can't resist them when I get home so I avoid them all together and make up my own meals.

I do however bulk buy and make up 12 portions of anything I cook and freeze in those little take away boxes you can buy. That way theres always something nice in the freezer ready for me to pop into the microwave. It takes no longer to make 12 portions than it does to make 1 or 2!

I've never used xanthum gum since I've been low carbing. Did you find any?

The local supermarkets didn't have any, but hardly surprising 'cause I'm out in the sticks. But the local health food shop dug a container out for me that they were just about to send back to the suppliers because it wasn't selling. I haven't really had the chance to try it yet but I'm making duck tonight so we'll see then with the gravy.

I'm dead impressed with Atkins. It's been 4 weeks tomorrow and I'm down over 16 pounds :-) - about half way to my goal - and its been really easy. Very, very happy. Had one really slow week but I came off my arthritis anti-inflammatories (which never seem to actually do anything) will no ill-effects and the weight loss speeded up again.

A very cheery maxa