Dieting Tips: Best Low Carb Snacks and Appetizers

Are you new to low carb dieting and need some good snack ideas. The first week or two can seem pretty boring but don't worry it doesn't last forever.After induction is over you have a lot more choices, but for now if you need a few ideas for snack and appetizers, I have just the thing. I too went through this boring period of trying to figure out what I can eat for snacking. Meals was no problem, I had that down pretty well. But it is a lot harder to figure out what you can eat for snacks. If you're in the Induction Phase, you're pretty limited. But once you've passed that you have a few more choices.

They'll tell you to limit fruit to low sugar varieties like apples, strawberries, pears, and etc. Apples are good for the fiber if you leave the peel on.They do have some carbs so you'll have to limit them. And don't drink juice it's loaded with sugar.Make sure to eat when you're hungry and don't skip meals. Here are a few snack ideas to get you started.

Most of these have only minimal carb counts, just be careful of the sauces, make sure they are low carb and not regular. The peanut butter should be around 3-5 grams of carbs, so limit it according to where you are in your dieting phase.

Apples and Peanut Butter

1/2 apple sliced
2 Tbsp Low Sugar or Natural Peanut Butter

Slice apple and spread peanut butter on slices.

Appetizer Meatballs

1 batch Meatballs
1 cup Better "Heinz" Ketchup
1/3 cup Da Vinci sugar free syrup, grape flavor

Meatballs:
2 pounds ground beef
1/3 cup onion, minced, 1 3/4 ounces
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon garlic

Mix the ingredients except for the syrup and ketchup. Shape into balls and place on baking sheet. Bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes. In separate bowl, mix ketchup and grape syrup. Place cooked meatballs in slow cooker and pour mixture over meatballs. Simmer on low heat for about 1/2 to 2 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Serve meatballs with toothpicks for party appetizer.

Deviled Eggs

Hard boiled eggs
Mustard (yellow, Dijon or spicy brown, etc.)
Mayonnaise
Dill or sugar free sweet pickle relish
Chives, minced
Seasonings (salt, pepper, paprika, Spicy Seasoning Salt, etc.)

Peel and slice eggs lengthwise; put the yolks in a bowl. Combine the yolks with the remaining ingredients and add enough mayonnaise to make creamy; beat until smooth. Spoon the yolk mixture into the whites; sprinkle with paprika.

Low Carb Buffalo Wings

* oil for deep frying
* 1/4 cup butter
* 1/4 cup hot sauce
* 1 dash ground black pepper
* 1 dash garlic powder
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 10 chicken wings

Heat oil in pan or fryer to 375 degrees . Cover wings entirely in the oil . Combine the butter, hot sauce, pepper and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until butter is melted and everything is well blended. Remove from heat.

In a small bowl, mix flour, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt. Put chicken wings in a dish or bowl and sprinkle flour over them until they are evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for 90 minutes.

Fry wings in oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until wings start to turn brown. Remove from heat, place in serving bowl, add hot sauce mixture and stir together. Serve with Low Carb Blue Cheese or Ranch dressing and celery sticks.

Vegetables and Dip

Chopped Cauliflower
Chopped Broccoli
Celery Sticks
Carrot Sticks
Cucumber Slices
Radish Slices
Black Olives

Dip
1 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
3 teaspoons tarragon vinegar
1 teaspoon grated onion
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish

Slice and chop vegetables, place in bowls or on a platter for serving. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, curry powder, garlic, vinegar, onion and horseradish. Mix together, keep cold until time to serve.

Guacamole

2 avocados
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tablespoons chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil

Cut avocados in half, remove pit and scoop out the inside and place in bowl. Mash avocado with a fork until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and refrigerate 1 hour before serving.

Bacon Shrimp Appetizer

16 large shrimp, peeled
8 slices of bacon
Low Carb BBQ Sauce

Wash and peel the shrimp, cut each slice of bacon in half and wrap one piece around each shrimp and secure with toothpick through the middle.Lay shrimp out on foil lined baking pan, brush with BBQ Sauce and place in 450 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

Marinated Vegetables

1 Onion Slices and separated into rings
1 Cucumber sliced thinly
1 Tomato sliced and cut into halves

Put all ingredients in a plastic bowl with a lid. Pour Low Carb Italian Dressing over all the vegetables until lightly covered. About 1/2-1 cup or so. Put lid on and shake to coat vegetables. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

Some of my own recipes
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/
http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/snack_recipes.html