Although many snack foods, including chips, pretzels and crackers, are high in carbohydrates, you may wish to include low-carbohydrate finger foods at your next gathering if some of your guests have different nutritional preferences. Low-carbohydrate diets range from the Atkins diet to the practically zero-carbohydrate ketogenic diet, so offering low-carb finger foods may please a wide range of guests. Check labels when available, as not all brands have the same nutrition facts and carbohydrate content.
Pork Rinds
Pork rinds are a common snack food sold at convenience marts and grocery stores, but unlike many other snacks, they do not contain carbohydrates. However, pork rinds are rich in fat, as a 1-oz. serving provides 9 g of fat, of which 3 g is saturated. Pork rinds are rich in protein, with 18 g in each 1-oz. serving, and the calorie content is the same as that of potato chips -- 160 calories per 1-oz. serving.
Beef Jerky
Beef jerky is not the perfect finger food, as it is rich in sodium -- each 1-oz. serving provides nearly 1/4 of the daily suggested intake of sodium -- but it is appropriate for low-carbohydrate dieters. Each 1-oz. serving of beef jerky contains just 3 g of carbohydrates. Beef jerky is also low in calories, with 80 calories, and 1/2 g fat per 1-oz. serving. Each serving of beef jerky provides 15 g of protein, a nutrient essential for proper growth and development of muscle and other tissues.
Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are relatively easy to make, and while they are low in carbohydrates, they are high in fat. To make deviled eggs, hard boil your desired amount of eggs, cut them in half and scoop out the yolks. Mix the yolks with mayonnaise, mustard and your desired spices and refill the eggs with this mixture. Deviled eggs are not ideal for weight loss, as two halves provide 145 calories, with 13 g of fat. This serving provides just 1/2 g of carbohydrates and 6.5 g of protein.
Shrimp Cocktail
If you are looking for low-carb finger foods to aid in weight loss, shrimp cocktail can be a top choice, as shrimp is not only low in carbohydrates but low in calories. A 4-oz. serving of shrimp contains just 80 calories, with 1 g of fat, no carbohydrates and 18 g of protein. Be sure to watch how much cocktail sauce you use, as 1/4 cup provides 11 g of carbohydrates. You can substitute salsa for a lower carbohydrate option.
Peanuts
Peanuts are calorie-dense, but they can be appropriate for low-carbohydrate diets. Each 1-oz. serving of shelled peanuts provides 160 calories, but the serving contains just 5 g of carbohydrates, of which 2 g come from dietary fiber. Peanuts are rich in fat, with 14 g, but 12 g of the fat is unsaturated, and each serving of peanuts offers 7 g of protein.
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