Snacking can help any dieter ward off hunger while fitting in extra nutrition. When following a low-carb diet, many typical sweets and snacks are off-limits. Think beyond cookies, chips, crackers and fruit when reaching for a low-carb snack or sweet.
Vegetables
Many vegetables, including red pepper strips, celery sticks, grape tomatoes and cucumber slices are low in carbohydrates. Dip these veggies into tuna salad or cottage cheese mixed with salsa. Wrap deli meat and cheese with romaine leaves for a satisfying snack-sized sandwich. Top lettuce leaves with guacamole and wrap into a small bundle for a vegetarian, low-carb snack.
Nuts
Nuts are low in carbohydrates, with an average of 5 g of carbohydrates per 1-oz. serving. Almonds, brazil nuts, cashews and pecans are slightly sweet and can satisfy the need to crunch. Keep raw nuts in the freezer to maintain their freshness.
Gelatin
Sugar-free gelatin is low in carbohydrates with just 1 g per 1/2-cup serving. The gelatin is usually flavored with carb-free aspartame or sucralose to satisfy your sweet tooth. Combine with cottage cheese or a small amount of whipped cream for variety.
Cheese
Low-fat string cheese or cubes of cheddar, Monterey jack or Swiss make a portable, low-carb snack. Most cheese has 1 g of carbs or fewer per oz. Mix 1/2-cup part skim ricotta cheese with 1/4 cup raspberries and aspartame for a sweet treat with 10 g of carbohydrates.
Peanut Butter Balls
Create low-carb protein balls by blending together sugar-free peanut butter, vanilla- or chocolate-flavored whey protein powder, and stevia powder or aspartame to taste. Roll the mixture into balls and freeze for easy storing. The balls taste like bites of peanut butter cookie dough and help satisfy a low-carb dieters' dessert cravings.
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