Snacks can be part of a healthy diet, staving off hunger and keeping energy levels high between meals. If your diet leans toward the low-carb side of the food spectrum, choosing snack foods can be a challenge. Eating a low-carb diet doesn't have to be boring, however, with a variety of healthy foods from which to choose.
Lean Meat
Fish, lean beef, chicken or turkey are carb-free and don't need to be included in your daily carb count. Broiled chicken, canned tuna or a slice of roast beef or turkey on a cracker makes a satisfying snack. Beef jerky is also carb-free and easy to throw into a backpack, but steer clear if you're concerned about sodium.
Cheese
Cheese is hard to beat when it comes to versatile, low-carb foods, and with hundreds of varieties to sample, this food never gets boring. Purchase cheese already sliced or slice it yourself. Eat it alone or paired with an apple slice or a whole wheat cracker. Spread cream cheese in a celery stick for a crunchy snack.
Vegetables
Fresh vegetables such as carrots, celery, radishes and cucumbers can be eaten in abundance, as all contain fewer than 5 carbs per 1/2 cup. Drizzle fresh vegetables with olive oil and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for a low-carb, gourmet treat.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds make healthy, no-fuss, low-carb snacks. Walnuts and Brazil nuts are especially low on the carb chart, with 3.5 and 3.6 g. per oz., respectively. Other low-carb nuts include almonds, peanuts and pecans. Peanut butter can also be incorporated into a low-carb snack. Spread it on a whole wheat cracker or an apple slice. Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are good low-carb choices, with slightly more than 5 carbs per ounce.
Hummus
Hummus, made of protein-rich chickpeas, makes a healthy snack with an ethnic flavor. At 17 carbs per 1/2 cup, hummus is a tasty dip for raw vegetables; you can also pair it with whole-grain crackers.
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