No Bread Needed
I love carbs—love them! And while I'll never ban bread and pasta from my diet, thanks to my trainer, I am trying to be more aware of my carb intake. Easy, right? Not so much for me.
As I found out pretty quickly, a good part of my meals consist of brown rice and bread, lots of bread. And while it's been easy to get more protein and fat into my meals, cutting down on carbs has proved to be difficult. To balance my meals out and shed a few pounds in the process, I've been striving for low-carb snacks through the day. Check out what I've been eating!
ON FITSUGAR: Three Simple Ways to Cut Carbs
Apples With Almond Butter
When it comes to fruit, apples are a great choice if you're trying to balance out your carb intake. Relatively low in sugar compared to fruits like bananas, grapes and cherries, apples get turned up a notch with the addition of almond butter. Apples are already high in fiber and antioxidants, but almond butter adds important nutrients like iron, vitamin E and calcium. For a snack, we suggest enjoying half of an apple with a tablespoon of raw almond butter.
ON FITSUGAR: Pass the Veggies! Fresh, Low-Carb Sides for Summer
Veggie Frittata
Besides being easy to whip up, a frittata also makes a healthy snack. Besides being low-carb, eggs are full of good-for-you nutrients like vitamin D, protein, and iron. Veggies like spinach, chard, and broccoli will give your frittata a nice fiber boost without making it carb-heavy. I like making a frittata on the weekend to cut up into small little squares that I snack on through the week.
ON FITSUGAR: 3 Low-Carb Ideas for Evening Meals
Jerky
Fish, turkey, or beef, jerky continues to be a favorite snack of mine. If at all possible, make your own; but if that's out, look for an all-natural, organic jerky that's made without preservatives or MSG, and is relatively low in sugar and sodium. In general, jerky is a low-fat, low-cal, and low-carb food, but is a great source of iron and protein.
ON FITSUGAR: Gluten-Free Doesn't Mean Better for You—or Does It?
Tuna Salad on Tomato
When you're watching your carb-counts, bread can be a major culprit. But bread doesn't have to be the only thing to build a sandwich on! The next time you whip yourself up a light tuna salad, serve it on a tomato, cucumbers, or make yourself a lettuce wrap. Tuna is packed with protein and iron, and the veggies will give the snack added vitamins and nutrients.
ON FITSUGAR: Low-Carb Sandwich Alternatives For When You're on the Go
Avocado With Sunflower Seeds
Avocados are a creamy snack that are good on their own, but a sprinkling of sunflower seeds give them an even healthier boost. The combination of avocado and sunflower seeds brings the body a healthy dose of fiber, vitamins E and K, and potassium. You also get a little bit of protein, too!
Caprese Salad
When the heat starts to pick up in the summer, nothing beats making a caprese salad. I love that it only relies on a few key ingredients: tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil. And, the fresher the better! If you're worried about calories, opt for a part-skim mozzarella, which still tastes satisfying. A small snack of a caprese salad delivers calcium, protein, and vitamins A and C. Not bad.
Cottage Cheese With Berries
When you're watching carbs, the combination of cottage cheese and berries is always a big win. Berries of all sorts are low in calories and high in antioxidants, vitamins, and lutein. Mix in some protein and you've got a healthy dose of protein and calcium.
Prosciutto and Melon
One of my all-time favorite snacks is honeydew wrapped in prosciutto; the sweet and savory combination can't be beat! Don't let the sweetness of a melon fool you into thinking it's an all-sugar fruit; melons also have a high-water content, which means you'll get more in a single serving. Expect lots of vitamin C from the melon and a good amount of protein from the prosciutto.
Lox With Cream Cheese
Low-carb doesn't have to mean no-carb. Pair up some heart-healthy salmon with calcium-rich cream cheese to go on a few whole wheat crackers. Or, switch out the crackers and opt for cucumber slices instead!
Go Nuts
Low-carb or not, nuts continue to be a favorite afternoon snack of mine. They're a great source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. And when it comes to nutritional benefits, you can't beat almonds, which also contain a good amount of calcium and iron when compared to other nuts.
