Years ago, some furious online detractor of low carb diets threw at me the accusation that I ate "pork rind cake." This is not true. I have never eaten a cake made from pork rinds, and had never heard of such a thing till the accusation was made. And though she subsequently posted a link to a recipe, that is the only time I have ever heard of pork rind cake in my near-decade on a low carb diet.

Writing a column on convenience foods goes against the grain for me - I'm always nagging people to just cook something, will you, for crying out loud?! A little simple, plain cooking is your best defense against bad food, not to mention a sky-high food budget. But I am aware that many people rarely eat anything that takes more preparation than three minutes in the microwave. Even folks who do cook occasionally have days when they just want something fast.

All of which makes this a great time to review a couple of products Andrew sent me last summer, and I neglected to review in a timely fashion: R.W. Garcia Soy and Flaxseed Tortilla Chips, and Baja Bob's Sugar Free Margarita Mix. I just love it when Andrew sends me a party in a box!

Whether its summer time or anytime, your low carb lifestyle demands that any meal you make is not just good, its great! The best way to make a good meal into a great one is to use Carl's Gourmet Seasonings. These delicious meat rubs enhance the flavor and tenderness of all kinds and cuts of meat. These spice blends and seasonings will improve the flavor of all of your favorite dishes and salads.

Each week Dana will be writing helpful and entertaining articles about the low carb lifestyle at Carb Smart Magazine healthy eating and anything else she wants to write about.

Folks often complain that while their low carb diet has led to weight loss and improved health, their budget is taking a beating. It's true that meat and vegetables are more expensive than pasta and rice. I've long countered that there's nothing cheap about "food" that makes you fat, tired, hungry, sick, and cranky, and that good food is an investment you can't afford not to make. I will forever stand by that argument.

Going on a picnic is one of the great joys of summer. Few things are more pleasant than spreading a blanket under a tree and lazing away an afternoon, noshing on simple but tasty foods. A picnic is a great way to entertain friends, too - because you won't be stuck running back and forth to the kitchen while everyone else is enjoying themselves!

Since I didn't want to spend an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen, our meals revolved around some type of meat on the grill, deviled eggs, a vegetable relish plate with dip, and a fruit plate. I made the deviled eggs, the vegetable relish plate, and the fruit plate up at the beginning of the week and replenished them daily as we ate all of certain items. So when dinnertime rolled around each day, I simply had to turn on the grill to cook the meat and bring out the various plates of side dishes.

Dana Carpender is the number one low carb author in the world. Check out Dana's articles for CarbSmart Low Carb Magazine every week.

Low carbers and non-low carbers alike appreciate gifts of food, and you don't have to go to the mall to get them. For low carbers, a batch of muffins or a loaf of low carbohydrate bread are wonderful gifts. I'm sure that you have recipes for both. But if you want one gift that you can give to either low carbers or non-low carbers, check out the recipes below. They are appropriate for anyone.

Ah, Memorial Day! It's not just a day off work. It's time to take the opportunity to remember those military personnel who have given their lives so that we can remain a free nation. Take a moment to remember our fallen men and women. Fly your American flag, and be thankful.