My Top 10 Low Carb Foods

Everyone has a few foods that are stand-bys when they are dieting. Those foods help them keep on track when cravings hit. These are my low carb foods that help me stay on my healthy eating plan. They help me lose weight and keep my blood glucose under control. These are in no specific order. They are all delicious and low in carbohydrates.

The first may sound cliché, but it is water. Drinking water helps me with hunger pangs. It helps me feel a bit more full at meals. It also helps my body run better. When I don't drink enough water, I don't feel well. To me, it is just common sense to drink enough water to help me feel good.

Number two would be whole grain bread. Healthy Living and Nature's Own are two breads that are low in carbs. They have a good selection of high fiber, low carb breads that can help keep cravings under control. I prefer the five Net Carb bread. These breads are not as dense as other higher carb breads, but they do have a good flavor. There are some other breads that are very low in carbs, also. Be sure to read the labels carefully. Just because they say they are low in sugar, does not mean they are low in carbs. Combine the healthy bread with some tuna and you have a very low carb lunch. Add a couple dill pickles and you will still come in under 30 carbs for the meal.

Fiber helps you feel full and also carries sugar through your digestive tract undigested. There are many high fiber products that are also very tasty. The most common are the cereal bars. Many of these have chocolate as one of the main ingredients. This helps a lot if you are having a craving for chocolate. High fiber cereals are also easy to find. And, there are some tasty varieties of those, as well.

The fourth food that is low in carbs and helps me feel full is eggs. Each egg has one carb. Scramble a couple eggs, have a couple slices of high fiber bread, and you can even add bacon to make a delicious and filling breakfast. And, you will still be eating a low carb meal that will keep you satisfied much longer than a bowl of cereal or something sugary.

Protein has no carbs. And, if the meat is prepared with ingredients that also have no carbs, you have a delicious no carb dish. Grilled or baked chicken or fish is the most healthy choice. A good way to make sure you have something low carb to make a meal from is to prepare enough for several meals. I get several large chicken breasts and cook them on my outside grill. Then, I have enough for 5 or 6 meals. There are so many ways to enjoy grilled chicken. My two favorites are chicken tacos and chicken salads. Fish is delicious baked over vegetables. Add different seasonings for some variety. You can alternate these delicious recipes and have a week's worth of low carb and low fat meals to enjoy. For some delicious low carb chicken recipes, see my earlier article here.

Most people love a good salad. And, leafy, green vegetables are very low in carbohydrates. They have, approximately, five carbs per cup. You can mix up any combination of lettuces and vegetables and have a wonderful meal. Add some chicken or tuna to your salad and you will enjoy a filling meal. It is even better when you can get fresh vegetables from your home garden or a farmer's market.

Surprisingly, most salad dressings are very low in carbs, even the creamy ones. And, being able to use a creamy dressing on a salad feels like cheating, but it really is not. As always, be sure and read the label. You want to be sure of the serving size, as well.

Cheese snacks are also another food that is low in carbohydrates. Just be sure to watch the fat and cholesterol. If eaten in moderation, in combination with other low carb foods, they can be very helpful in keeping the cravings at bay.

A good way to keep your insides healthy is to eat at least one serving of yogurt a day. And, if you get the light variety, it can be used as a between meal snack. Additionally, it has lots of calcium for those who need it.

There are many canned soups that are very low in carbohydrates. The problem with them, though, is that they have a lot of sodium. If you are careful and choose low sodium varieties, you are able to have soup and a sandwich, which will make a very satisfying meal.

It can seem daunting when trying to choose foods that are low in carbs. However, with some advice from those who have been doing it for a while, hopefully the task will seem easier. Just be sure to read labels and do not believe the claims that many companies make. Know what you are putting into your body and be aware of what is in your food.