The Atkins diet is one of many better-known dietary programs, first introduced in the 1970s. Dr. Robert Atkins wrote his first book, "Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution," and it has gone through several revisions since then, and continues to be popular among dieters. The premise of the Atkins diet is to limit intake of carbohydrates to about 20g a day during the initial phase. As you progress through the phases, you gradually add more carbohydrates. After the initial phase, dieters are allowed between 40 and 90g of carbohydrates daily. Knowing a few low-carb foods permissible for the Atkins diet may help you lose weight and keep it off.
Eggs and Dairy
Some eggs and dairy products are acceptable for the Atkins diet. For example, a large egg contains about 0.40g of carbs, according to Carb-Counter.net. One cup of low-fat milk contains 6.10g of carbs, while 1 cup of low-fat cottage cheese contains about 6.78g of carbs. Choose buttery or oil toppings carefully, such as whipped butter or anhydrous butter oil, at 0.06 to 0g respectively, according to Low Carb Diet Tools.
Meat
For dieters who like beef, choose lean and trimmed cuts of beef such as London broil, round steak and New York strip steak. Trim off as much fat as possible before broiling. Eat 3 to 4 oz servings. You may also eat lean cuts of veal, pork and lamb, all of which have no carbs. Stay away from lunch meats and any kind of hot dogs or sausages, as they may be loaded with carbs. Roasted or broiled is the best way to eat meats for Atkins dieters.
Vegetables
Vegetables contain carbs, but you can choose those with lower carb content by reading labels and being aware. For example, raw watercress contains about 1.3g of carbs per serving, while a serving of mashed potatoes may have more than 85g. Stick to vegetables, like bamboo shoots, asparagus and spinach at about 2g per serving. Mustard greens and cucumbers hover just over 2g per serving, while broccoli and turnips hover around 3g per serving.
Fruits
Most fruits are naturally high in carbohydrates, so limit your intake, especially when you're first starting out on the Atkins diet. For example, a raw Rose apple contains about 5g of carbs, while a serving of golden seedless raisins may contain as much as 80g of carbs.
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