If you’re looking to maintain a low carb diet, you’ll want to be sure the foods you choose to eat offer you the most bang for your buck. You’ll want to find foods with minimal carbs per serving, but that also offer you other health benefits.
Having a list of healthy low carb foods is a great way to be sure you’re sticking with your diet in a healthy way.
Continue reading for 21 of the healthiest low carb foods you should include in your diet:
21 Low Carb Foods:
Quinoa
Quinoa has seen a sharp rise in popularity recently due to the focus on healthy, low carb foods. Due to its high amounts of fiber and protein, 5 grams and 8 grams respectively, quinoa is a great addition to any diet, low carb or not! With only 20 grams of carbs per cooked half cup serving, quinoa easily fits into most low carb diets!
Oatmeal
If there is one choice for carb source everyone should be including in their diet, it is oatmeal. Whether you go with old fashion rolled oats, or steel cut oats, oatmeal provides an incredibly healthy source of fiber, beta-glucan, and protein! A half-cup serving of prepared oatmeal contains roughly 27 grams of carbs. This is a bit higher than quinoa but is still easily added to most low carb diets.
Eggs
Eggs are an excellent low carb addition to anyone’s diet! They’re incredibly cheap and packed with 6 grams of protein, 5 grams of healthy fat, all with only 70 calories per serving! Eggs are also a great source of many vital nutrients including choline, lutein, and vitamin D. If eggs haven’t been a part of your low carb diet thus far, consider adding them!
Beef
Another great food to add to your low carb diet is beef. Beef, like most other meats, contains zero carbs! Beef is an amazing source of protein, but be sure you’re sticking with leaner cuts. As you may know, calorie amounts can vary greatly between different portions! A nice ribeye or porterhouse is tasty for sure, but these fattier cuts of beef are much higher in calories than leaner cuts. Look for sirloin, eye of round, or bottom round.
Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds are a great low carb food. You can add them to almost anything in order to add a nice bit of crunchy texture and nutrients. In just a three-tablespoon serving, hemp seeds contain 9 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber. At only 170 calories they serve as a healthy addition to any diet. They’re also a great source of important nutrients such as zinc, magnesium, and iron.
Soy
Soy is an excellent addition to a low carb diet. With a 3.5-ounce serving featuring only 2 grams of carbs and 10 grams of protein, it is hard to pass up! You have many different options available to you in order to add soy to your diet. Tofu, soymilk, and edamame all give you healthy options to consider.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is an amazingly tasty way to add some healthy fats to your diet while minimizing your carb intake. It’s a common misconception but peanuts are actually a type of legume, so they do contain some carbs (around 7 grams per serving). However, but they are chock full of protein and healthy fat, 7 grams and 17 grams respectively. When shopping for peanut butter, stick with a natural variety that doesn’t contain any added sugar.
Nuts
Nuts are one of the most nutrient dense foods you could add to your diet. They all contain large amounts of healthy fats and little carbs! Whether you choose to go with walnuts, almonds, pistachios, or macadamia nuts, adding these to your diet will ensure you get a healthy amount of satiating and beneficial fat in your diet. Most nuts contain anywhere from 2 to 4 grams of fiber and between 4 and 8 grams of carbs. This makes them an excellent choice for low carb foods.
Olives
Olives are super flavorful. This healthy food should be a part of everyone’s diet! What makes olive so great is their incredibly high percentage of beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids, which offer us an amazing variety of health benefits. In just a quarter cup serving of olives, healthy fats are found in abundance. At only 40 calories, they are hard to pass up!
Jerky
Jerky is a super convenient and healthy addition to anyone’s diet. If you’re looking to stick with a low-carb diet, jerky is a great option. It comes in a variety of different flavors and may be made from a whole host of different meats. Jerky is commonly found made from turkey, beef, chicken, bison, and even bear! A serving of jerky contains roughly 7 grams of protein and as few as 2 grams of carbs which make it an excellent option for low carb foods.
Hummus
Hummus is a super tasty and healthy spread that can be used to dip many different things. It also makes a great condiment for wraps and sandwiches. Its unique Mediterranean flavor is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters! Hummus is made from chickpeas, which are one of the healthiest legumes one could eat. So, if you hope to add a healthy carbohydrate to your low carb diet, add hummus to your short list!
Cauliflower
Cauliflower has become incredibly popular in recent years due to the rise in popularity of low carb diets such as the keto diet. Due to its mild flavor and great texture, it lends itself well to a variety of different cuisines. It also makes a great alternative to other fattier and carb-heavy foods such as chicken wings and pizza crust.
Berries
If you’re going to include any fruits or other sweet carbs in your low carb diet, make it berries! Compared to other fruits, they are quite low in sugar and high in fiber. Some great options for healthy, low carb berries include blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. A one cup serving of blueberries offers you a healthy and satiating way to add 21 grams of healthy carbs to your diet while reaping a plethora of health benefits from the other nutrients included.
Greek Yogurt
Though most dairy food options aren’t really low carb, Greek yogurt is! This super thick, strained, yogurt variety has very few carbs and is an excellent source of protein. In just one 6-ounce serving of plain Greek yogurt, you’ll get 17 grams of protein, with a good amount of calcium provided as well! Greek yogurt is only low carb if you opt for the plain varieties though. Most flavored options are loaded with added sugar, which negates any benefits you’re likely to gain.
Kefir
If you’re bent on keeping dairy in your low carb diet, another great option is kefir. Kefir isn’t quite as low carb as Greek yogurt, and typically has as much sugar as milk does, but is loaded with gut bolstering probiotics! It is also lactose-free, an excellent option for those who cannot usually consume dairy products. Kefir is a great source of protein, calcium, and also vitamin D!
Cottage Cheese
Another great dairy option to add to your low carb diet is cottage cheese! Cottage cheese contains even more protein than Greek yogurt, with a one-cup serving netting you 24 grams of muscle building protein! Cottage cheese is an excellent protein source that can be eaten both in savory or sweet preparations. This makes it a very versatile option among low carb foods.
Chicken
If you’re looking for an excellent source of protein, while keeping your carb intake low, chicken might well be your best option! It is one of the world’s most popular protein sources, and for good reason! Chicken contains a large amount of protein, with little fats when compared to other meats. It also is loaded with many other vitamins and nutrients which make it a great addition to any diet.
Pork
Pork is a great low carb food that features an abundant amount of protein! Different cuts offer you varying amounts of fats so be mindful of which option you choose. Cuts like bacon, pork belly, or ribs are very high in fat, which can be hard to fit into a low carb diet if weight loss is the goal.
Carbs: zero, but read the label and avoid bacon cured with sugar.
Salmon
If there is one fish you should be including in your diet, it is salmon! Salmon contains a great number of beneficial fats, namely omega-3 fatty acids. It is also very high in protein. Salmon is a tasty and healthy way to get many vital nutrients while keeping the carb count low.
Broccoli
Broccoli is probably one of the healthiest vegetables you could add to your diet and is incredibly low carb. It contains the vitamins K and C in large amounts and due to its high amount of fiber, it is very filling.
Avocado
Aside from the previously mentioned berries, avocado is probably your best bet if you’re looking to add more fruit to your diet. Avocado is unique among most other fruits in that it is very high in fat, where most other fruits are carb heavy.
Final Thoughts:
Sticking to a low carb diet is a great way to shed the weight off. When shopping for low carb foods, it’s important to look at the facts and choose options that offer you the most benefit. After reading through this list, you should be well on your way to maintaining a low carb diet that is both healthy, and satiating!
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