Low Carb Snack Ideas

Between dinner and bedtime is what I call The Danger Zone. I'm not really hungry; I just want to eat something. I want something to chew--something to taste. This is the time I could eat my weight in cheese puffs or chips or popcorn. After some shopping, however, I have now learned a few tricks that get me through the valley of shadows until I retire for the night.

The main ingredient is Flatout Flatbread, available, at least in my area, in the Food Lion deli/bakery section. It can be baked, toasted, and my personal favorite: fried! That's right! Fried. (Don't try this if you are restricting your intake of oils and fats.) It is a great low carb replacement for any other bread. Here we go:

Idea 1. Take boneless, skinless chicken tenders, or breast which have been sliced into strips, marinate in a no-sugar vinegar and oil type dressing, and fry, grill, or bake anyway you like. While the chicken is cooking, lay a low carb Flatout Flatbread wrap on a cutting board and slice it into skinny strips (a pizza cutter works best.) Heat some canola or safflower oil in a pan and quick fry the strips. They get crispy and crunchy in just a few seconds and make a great side item to the chicken, especially if seasoned a bit. Great for finger food. Don't like the strips? Then cut the Flatout Flatbread into triangles (about the size of a Doritos) and fry. Fun to eat!

Idea 2. If you like the fried triangle idea, whip up some low carb dip. Spinach dip, soup mix dip (no-sugar!) and use them as you would any other dip chip.

Idea 3. Take nearly any type of low carb veggie (no starch!-no carrots, corn, etc.) stir fry with your chicken strips and wrap up in Flatout Flatbread. Tuck in the ends and ... get ready ... FRY the entire wrap in a pan sprayed with cooking spray or a little olive or safflower oil. Press it down briefly with a spatula to brown it, then flip and repeat. (Browns on both sides.) Top with a little sour cream and maybe an herb garnish.

Idea 4. Tired of clear broth types of soup? Use strips of Flatout Flatbread in the soup, much as you would in a tortilla soup. Drop cut up bits of flatbread in as the soup is just ready to boil (but not boiling--never boil soup.) The flatbread will dissolve into the soup and act as a low carb thickener, much like corn starch or flour, but without the carbs.

Idea 5. Fried ravioli. Cut Flatout Flatbread into 2" squares. Spoon a dollop of a mixture of crab meat or spinach and cream cheese (or all three!) Fry slowly in heated olive oil. Sprinkle with seasoning (my favorite is the little sprinkler of bread dipping seasonings) or make a cream sauce with heated heavy whipping cream (low carb, believe it or not!) and parmesan cheese.

Once you get started, you'll come up with your own great ideas. Every little bit helps when it comes to resisting temptation. Enjoy!