Top 10 Low-Carb, Atkins Friendly Snacks

Top 10 Low-Carb, Atkins Friendly Snacks - Satisfy even the most serious munchies with these Atkins friendly snack ideas.

1. Pepperoni Crackers

Spread sliced pepperoni in a single layer on a cookie sheet. In a 425-degree oven, bake pepperoni for 8-10 minutes. Remove excess grease from pepperonis by blotting with a paper towel. Bake another 2-3 minutes until very crispy.

Hormel, Oscar Meyer, and Bridgford brands of pepperoni all have zero carbs per serving. For a mini-pizza, top pepperoni chips with a dollop of tomato paste, a small slice of cheese, a sliced olive, and a bit of green chili. Broil until melty.

2. Fried Cheese

Have a hankering for a grilled cheese sandwich? Cut frying cheese into cubes (look for it at your local grocer in the specialty cheese section near the deli; the Mexican cheeses queso fresco, enchilado, and adobera will also fry without melting) and fry in a bit of olive oil over medium heat. Watch the heat, this cheese will burn fast. The cheese will be crispy and brown on the outside and melty and gooey on the inside. Close your eyes and you just might think you're eating the real thing!

Wisconsin Farms brand frying cheese has zero carbs per serving.

3. 1-2-3 Cheese Crackers

Miss Cheez-Its? Try this fast, easy variation. Buy Colby jack or cheddar cheese sticks (not string cheese). Slice into about a dozen pieces. Spread evenly on a plate covered with parchment paper (this steps helps make the cheese crispy like a cracker) and microwave for about a minutes. Let cool, and enjoy!

Spread a bit of peanut butter (sugar free, all natural) between two cheese crackers for a low-carb variation of cheese-and-peanut-butter crackers.

4. Chocolate Celery Sticks

Combine a package of cream cheese with a teaspoon to a tablespoon of cocoa powder (to taste) and a bit of Splenda (to taste). Use as a dip for celery sticks. A low-carb choice to satisfy that sweet tooth!

5. Cauliflower Popcorn

Okay, the similarities to popcorn might only be visual, but this is still a tasty snack. Toss the florets from one head of cauliflower in 3 tablespoons olive oil and 1-1.5 teaspoons Mrs. Dash seasoned salt (to taste). Spread in a single layer on a cookie sheet and roast in a 450-degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour. Turn three to four times and remove small florets that get too brown. Roast just a bit longer than you think you should, and the cauliflower will come out nice and caramelized. Two servings, 2.5 net carbs per serving.

6. Deviled Eggs

An oldie but a goodie, and a reliable hunger-satisfier. Hard-boil eggs. Peel, cut in half lengthwise, and scoop out yolks. Mix yolks with a couple tablespoons mayonnaise (depending on how many eggs you used), minced onion, minced celery, and chopped dill. Spoon mixture back into egg halves. Garnish with sprigs of dill.

7. Dr. Pepper Float

A low-carb snack for hot, summer days. Satisfies your craving for something sweet, too! Add a small portion of your favorite low-carb vanilla ice cream to glass of Diet Dr. Pepper.

8. Turnip Fries

A low-carb substitute for potato fries. Peel turnips, cut like fries, season with salt, pepper, chili powder, and/or shredded cheese (grated Parmesan is delicious). Spread on a baking sheet and drizzle with oil olive. Bake in a 450-degree oven for 30 minutes, turning fries once or twice. About six carbs per medium turnip.

9. Tuna Wrap

Wrap a serving of tuna or tuna salad in a leaf of lettuce. This is super tasty and easy if you purchase those "pre-seasoned" packets of tuna.

This is one of the fastest snack recipes I've come across. Especially if you clean and leaf your lettuce right after you buy it and then keep a ziploc or Tupperware of lettuce leafs in your fridge.

10. Jalapeno Poppers

Half two jalapeno peppers lengthwise and remove seeds. Mix 1 ounce cream cheese with 1 strip of cooked, crumbled bacon. Fill peppers with mixture and bake in a 375-degree oven for 20 minutes.

My favorite sources for low-carb recipes are Atkins Diet Bulletin Board, Low Carb Bulletin Board, and I've Got Friends in Low-Carb Places.