I’m the carb commander, pasta monster, bread binger- call me what you will. I could live solely on bread if it didn’t mean gaining one million pounds. However, living a low-carb life doesn’t have to suck. Here are some of my favorite low-carb foods and alternatives that fill you up. Hopefully, they can help you stick to your goals.
House Foods Tofu Shirataki Noodle
Some people love them, and some hate them, but for 20 calories a bag, it’s a great pasta and noodle substitute. So I always keep a bag in my fridge. They are made from the root of the plant Amorphophallus Konjac which is sort of like a yam.
Shirataki noodles have a weird texture, but it’s reduced by boiling them for a bit. These noodles are plentiful in creamy sauces and excellent in Asian noodle dishes. They can even be used in baked dishes. Hungry Girl has some delicious recipes using them, like mac and cheese.
Spaghetti Squash
Even though it sometimes feels like I need a machete to open one of these bad boys, what’s inside is so worth it. It has only 40 calories and 8 grams of carbs per cup.
(TIP: Put it in the microwave for 5-10 minutes to soften it up)
Compared to pasta which has about 200 calories and 40 grams of carbs per cup. It is delicious, healthy, and super versatile. Preparing it with sauce as pasta is the most common way. You can also bake it, loosen the spaghetti strands, and stuff it with anything. You can do lasagna, chili cheese, or southwest.
Carb Balance Mission Wraps
Sometimes low-carb bread can be dry and complex, but these wraps are fluffy and tasty. These are great for fajitas, quesadillas, wrap sandwiches, and personal pizzas.
Top it with some sauce, low-fat cheese, and turkey pepperoni, and you’re good to go. They have 13 grams of fiber per wrap, leaving it at six net carbs for the smaller size. I’ve tried a few others, but none compare.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower can be used for different starchy substitutions because of its texture. The most popular is making “mashed potatoes.” The person who figured this one out deserves an award.
It’s so freaking delicious that you don’t even miss the potatoes. You can make so many great things, like pizza crust (I need to try this), cheesy tater tots, and jalapeno cheddar muffins. Cauliflower is low in fat, low in carbs, and high in fiber.
Veggetti Spiral Vegetable Cutter
Veggetti Spiral Vegetable CutterI know it sounds dirty, but it’s one of those “As Seen on TV” gadgets that are good. My aunt told me about this one, and she loves it. You can make spaghetti out of any vegetable.
I wasn’t convinced, but I found some healthy, delicious recipes using all different types of spaghetti-ed vegetables. Zucchini Spaghetti with Marinara, Caprese Beet Noodle Pasta, and Carrot Pasta with Garlic sauce are just a few.
Corn Thins and Wasa Crispy n Light
These are my go-to if I need to put some carby snack in my mouth. They are both super low in calories and carbs. They lack in the taste department, but nothing some 30-calorie Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges can’t fix. These were my savior on Weight Watchers, with both coming in at 1 point per serving.
Beef Jerky
I know many people don’t like beef jerky, but if you do, it makes a great low-carb snack, especially if you are on the road or out all day; instead of grabbing that bag of chips, go for the jerky.
Some are packed with high-sodium ingredients, but there are healthier ones available. Slank Shack is great, and you can snag some customized jerky made to order.
Eggs
It sounds pretty basic, but eggs are high in protein and vitamins but low in calories and carbs. They have a lot of nutrients packed inside that tiny shell. They keep me full even though they are only 75 calories; however, they provide 13 essential nutrients.
One of my favorite low-carb recipes is my healthy egg salad. I sauté some spinach with garlic, salt, and pepper. Drain any leftover liquids, Then mix them with a bunch of egg whites and a teaspoon of mayo. Delicious for breakfast or lunch.
Wonton Wrappers
I love these little guys. You can do anything to them, wrap them, fill them, fold them, top them, or even bake them into cups. Eight wrappers come in at about 0.5g fat, 31.5g carbs, and 4g protein.
My favorite way to use them is to put them into my mini muffin tray to make small cups that you can fill with anything. I find the best ideas on Emily Bites like Chicken Pesto Wontons, Thai Peanut Chicken Cups, Lasagna Cupcakes, and Taco Cupcakes.
They are also great for dessert! You can sprinkle some cinnamon and sugar on the sheets, bake them into cups and fill them with low-fat Cool Whip and fresh strawberries.
Let me know if you have other great low-carb products or ideas. I love trying out new things!
