Atkins Snack Choices

The routine of having three square meals a day is no longer the normal dining method for most Americans. Always on the go, and with fast-food providers available on every corner, people are eating at all times of the day and into the night.

The real problem is that since these tempting eateries offer mostly fried foods and snacks that are loaded with carbohydrates, fat and sugar, it becomes a challenge for those on the Atkins diet to find snacks that fit into their healthy plan.

It would be wise to rid your pantry of junk food including salty or sweet snacks. Chips, crackers and pretzels are loaded with fat, white flour, artificial flavors, preservatives and salt. Sweet snacks are calorie dense, low on nutrition and are forbidden on the Atkins plan.

Since snacking is an important part of your daily diet consume snacks that are high in protein to boost your energy, curb your appetite and keep your blood sugar level, which is very important on the Atkins plan.

Some good protein choices are string cheese, cheese rounds, beef jerky, pre-cooked bacon and slices of baked turkey or roast beef and boiled eggs. Almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, and some seeds are also good high protein snacks that are quick and delicious.

A few low-carbohydrate snacks that are quick and easy to prepare are, celery with cheese or peanut butter, tuna salad and boiled eggs. You can jazz up your snacks with low-carbohydrate dressings, mustard and other spices to make them delicious. Deviled eggs, raw cauliflower, broccoli, bacon strips and pork rinds, canned mackerel and sardines all make good snacks.

Atkins brand offers a large variety of low carbohydrate or sugar-free snacks including pecan bars, candy, shakes and hot chocolate for purchase at retail stores. Other brands of good low carbohydrate foods are also available at most retail stores. Read the labels on all snacks, prepared meats and cheese since they may contain hidden carbohydrates.

You can purchase low carbohydrate soy and vegetable chips for crunchy foods, to use with peanut butter or cream cheese spreads to add more protein in your snacks. Sugar-free gelatin with added whipped cream makes a delicious sweet snack.

Many cookbooks and Internet sites offer snack recipes that are made with low carbohydrate ingredients such as soy flour, spelt flour and low calorie sweeteners.

The most important thing is to keep your carbohydrates low and your protein high and use good judgment in selecting snacks and you will have a great success on the Atkins diet.

Sources: lowcarb4life.sugarbane.com