Meal Ideas for Low-Carb & Low-Fat Diets

Meal Ideas for Low-Carb & Low-Fat Diets
Photo Credit healthy salad image by Liz Van Steenburgh from Fotolia.com

Many low-carb diet plans suggest staying away from unhealthy saturated and trans fats as well as simple carbohydrates. The fats you do consume should be healthy monounsaturated fats, such as the fatty acids in extra-virgin olive oil and fish. Lean meats are often recommended on low-fat, low-carb diets because they are low in fat and provide complete protein, which has all the amino acids your body cannot produce on its own.

Breakfast Options

Eggs are a smart breakfast choice on low carbohydrate diets, as they are carb-free and low in fat. If you want a fat-free option, use liquid egg whites. You can incorporate lean ham or turkey bacon into your breakfast, which provide protein without much fat. An asparagus omelet with goat cheese is a healthy breakfast option you can make at home that only contains 6 g carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. This recipe calls for liquid egg whites, eggs, fat-free milk, chopped scallions, chopped fresh thyme leaves, chopped parsley, salt, ground black pepper, asparagus, crumbled low-fat goat cheese and chives for garnish. You can substitute the goat cheese for fat-free cheddar cheese if you wish to further reduce the fat content.

Lunch Options

Lean turkey wraps are low in fat and carbs as well as quick and tasty. Spread honey mustard or your low-fat sauce of choice on a slice of turkey. Place a reduced-fat slice of Swiss cheese on top and add spinach, which is packed with vitamins A and K, and potassium. Salads also make healthy low-fat, low-carb lunch options, such as a tuna salad on spinach or grilled chicken salad on watercress and kale. Feel free to load up on nonstarchy vegetables when you make a salad because on many low-carb diets, vegetables are your main source of carbohydrates. Add nutrient- and antioxidant-rich vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and brussels sprouts.

Dinner Options

Lean meats, such as turkey, ham, duck and chicken are excellent low-fat, low-carb options for the main dish at dinner. Fish is another healthy option and the fat in fish has essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which support heart health. Steak au poivre is a tasty dinner option you can prepare at home, that only contains 7 g of fat, 8 g of carbohydrates and provides 21 g of protein. The ingredients for this warm, diet-friendly dinner include crushed garlic, crushed peppercorns, beef tenderloin steak that is trimmed of all visible fat, olive oil cooking spray, chopped onion, strips of bell peppers, minced garlic, beef-flavored bouillon granules, ground paprika and fat-free evaporated milk for a saucy finish when mixed with water, bouillon granules, paprika and peppercorns.

Dessert Options

Believe it or not, you can indulge in desserts and still adhere to your diet. Just refrain from commercial and restaurant desserts because they are generally loaded with unhealthy fat, sugar and simple carbohydrates. Make healthy desserts at home such as fruit smoothies made with mixed berries, unsweetened almond milk, ice and sugar-free vanilla pudding or nonfat plain yogurt. If chocolate is your guilty pleasure, chocolate meringue cookie kisses should satisfy your craving and only contain 1 g of fat and 2 g of carbohydrates. The recipe calls for egg whites, cream of tartar, sugar substitute, unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla extract and light whipped topping.

References

Article reviewed by Elizabeth Ahders Last updated on: May 4, 2011

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