7 Low-Carb Alternatives You Should Know | Eat Smarter USA

HUMMUS, CHIA, QUINOA & VEGETABLE SPAGHETTI

7 Low-Carb Alternatives You Should Know

By EAT SMARTER

Following a low-carb diet is pretty hip and supposedly cuts out carbs so the pounds should melt right off. Unfortunately going low-carb isn’t as easy as it sounds. After all, what can you replace pasta, bread or chips with? EAT SMARTER has found the best low carb alternatives for you to try.

Low Carb Diet

The idea behind a low-carb diet is simple.  If your body doesn’t get any carbohydrates it has to attack the fat deposits, which help you lose weight. Therefore, a lot of diets recommend you to cut down on carbs, especially in the evenings. With these low-carb alternatives you can still have satisfying and tasty food!

1. Almond and Coconut Flour Instead Of Wheat Flour

Using almond or coconut flour instead of normal wheat flour can be a great alternative for people who want to bake and it still follow a low-carb diet. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as just replacing the wheat flour with almond or coconut flour since the wheat ensures that your baked goods stay juicy. We recommend you add nuts or other gluten-free thickeners, such as carob or guar gum, so you can still get juicy and delicious baked goods.

Fruit Instead Of Jams and Jellies

Now that we have found the perfect alternative for bread, we are also going to find a great alternative for jams and jellies. For people who like sweets, either sugar-free jam or fresh fruit is perfect. Have you ever eaten bread covered in fresh raspberries or bananas flavored with cinnamon or vanilla? No? You will be surprised how great of a combination this can be. Those who prefer savory bread toppings should definitely try hummus. Hummus is a way healthier alternative to hazelnut chocolate cream and can taste just as good. Hummus is extremely rich in fiber and also provides you with plenty of iron, magnesium, and zinc.

Vegetable Spaghetti Instead of Pasta

Penne al arrabiata, spaghetti bolognese or fusilli with pesto are indeed a real treat. Unfortunately, they are also extremely high in carbs.  Now, with a handy mandolin slicer, you can make your own pasta out of vegetables.  You can transform zucchini or carrots into spaghetti – just watch your fingers! This not only saves carbs but also time. Since veggie pasta does not need to be boiled, simply cooking it for a few minutes is enough. Then, you can toss it with your favorite sauce and you are done!

Quinoa Instead Of Rice

In recent years, quinoa has become increasingly well known and popular. Rightly so, since the seed is a great alternative for rice. Quinoa contains many very high-quality proteins and essential amino acids. The iron and magnesium content is also very high. In addition, quinoa has a lot of fiber, which can really help with digestion and keep you feeling full longer.

Cauliflower Instead Of Potatoes

This vegetable should really be on everyone’s menu more often. Cauliflower is a phenomenal replacement for potatoes. If you love mashed potatoes you will also love cauliflower purée. And if you are feeling adventurous, you can also use a food processor to turn cauliflower into a rice substitute.

Vegetable Chips Instead Of Potato Chips

Sometimes you just want chips to snack on. If you don’t want to give up your favorite movie night snack, just replace it with vegetable chips. Oven-roasted and baked carrots, beets, kale or artichoke slices are low-carb and just as delicious. Just season them with some salt and pepper.

Chia Seeds Instead Of Oatmeal

Oatmeal for breakfast is filling and healthy. However, if you want to reduce the amount of carbs you are eating, oatmeal is not the best breakfast option. Instead, try chia seeds. When chia seeds are added into water they change their texture and become gel-like. Because of this, they are the perfect filling breakfast food. They also have many more positive characteristics.

Coconut and Almond Flour Instead of Wheat Flour