Pad Thai with fried rice and mango for dessert might be a delicious Thai meal, but it's anything but low in carbs. Thai food is as popular thousands of miles from Bangkok as it is within the borders of Thailand, and is renowned for being healthy and delicious.
One downside of Thai food is that it's not usually a good choice on a low carb diet. Low carb diets, the Mayo Clinic reports, can curb appetite and facilitate weight loss. Fortunately, there are a number of options for low carb Thai food.
Chicken with Cashew Nut
Chicken with cashew nut is a Thailand lunchtime staple that's low in carbs. Although the exact ingredients vary, the dish is usually made with lean chicken, fresh veggies and cashews stir-fried together for a delicious and low carb meal. Cashew nuts may also give diners the health benefit of curbing Type 2 diabetes risk, UPI.com reports.
However, the sauce used to make this dish may contain added sugar. Limit the amount of sauce, or use soy sauce for flavor instead. Although white rice is typically served with this dish, it's high in carbs and should be avoided.
Grilled Chicken
In the Thai language, the term for "eating" literally translates to "to eat rice," so finding a dish with almost zero carbs can be quite a challenge in a culture where rice plays such a major role. However, Thai grilled chicken is a healthy and low carb choice for a taste of Thailand without the carbs.
A four-ounce serving of grilled chicken contains 14 grams of protein and only two grams of carbs, PeerTrainer.com reports. Grilled chicken is great with low carb Thai sides like sliced cucumber and papaya salad.
Stir Fried Veggies
Vegetables form the basis of many Thai dishes. A popular main course in Thailand is a giant plate of stir-fried vegetables. Usually made with carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, and onions, it's a flavorful Thai dish that's low in carbs. A six-ounce helping of stir-fried vegetables contains only six grams of carbs, PeerTrainer.com reports.
Shrimp Soup
Shrimp soup, also known as Tom Yum, will set your mouth on fire with its spicy heat, but will leave your waistline intact. The ingredients in the soup, shrimp, green leafy veggies, lemongrass and coconut milk, are all low in carbs. The Daily Plate reports that a full serving of this soup has only nine grams of carbs.
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