Low-carb Peanut Butter Snacks

Many snacks contain high levels of carbohydrates, often due to the excessive use of processed flours or refined sugars. Whether you're on a low-carb diet, you're a diabetic or simply want to moderate your intake of carbs for other health reasons, peanut butter comes recommended by Dr. Robert Atkins as one of the best low-carb nut spreads. For the best carbohydrate minimization, make sure the peanut butter you select comes unsweetened. One serving of 2 tbsp. of the average unsweetened, unsalted peanut butter spread will net you approximately 6 g of carbohydrates.

Peanut Butter and Bread

The classic PB sandwich -- skip the "J," or jelly, in the PB&J kids' favorite -- comes recommended by Sports Dietitians Australia as one of the best low-carb snacks for athletes. Your specific carb intake with this snack will vary. If you're trying to restrain carb intake even further, try an open-faced sandwich made with just a single slice of wheat bread. That option is recommended by "Diabetic Living" magazine's list of the top 17 low-carb snack ideas, reviewed and approved by two registered dietitians. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that a traditional slice of wheat bread contains 11 g of carbs, but you can find many low-carb bread products on the market.

Apple Slices with Peanut Butter

"Diabetes Daily" recommends apple slices with peanut butter as a good snack idea. The apple gives you several grams of soluble fiber, which can help to enhance your body's ability to digest foods. The fiber, paired with the peanut butter's protein, will also help keep you feeling full longer, thus reducing your temptation to snack on other foods and thus increase your carb intake. The average cup of sliced apples, with the skin intact, only has 15 g of carbohydrates.

Peanut Butter with Celery

A dietitian with eDiets also suggests apples and peanut butter as a good low-carb snack, but suggests trying the nut spread with celery for an even lower-carb option. A 4-inch strip of raw celery is practically carbohydrate-free, containing just 0.12 g of carbs. Thus, you can indulge a bit more with this snack without feeling as guilty as you would if you were enjoying some other low-carb snacks.

Peanut Butter and Bagels

Bagels have been enjoyed for centuries, and there's no reason why you need to stop enjoying them as a low-carb snack. The Atkins low-carb diet recommends bagels, noting that several bagel brands on the market contain as little as 4 g of carbohydrates per bagel. Check the nutrition label on each bagel product, as some manufacturers add toppings and seasonings like cheese that can affect the bagel's carb levels on a brand-by-brand and product-by-product basis.