Following a no-carb diet requires eliminating all carb-rich foods from your diet, including any foods containing flour or sugar as well as fruits and most dairy products. No-carb diets usually allow up to 20 g of carbohydrates a day, which should be provided mostly by nonstarchy vegetables. Common treats and desserts are full of carbohydrates, but you can find ways to treat yourself even on a no-carb diet.
Dark Chocolate
Most chocolate bars contain added sugar or ingredients with sugar or carbs, such as wafers or caramel. However, dark chocolate contains more cocoa powder and less sugar. Not all dark chocolate is created equal, and if you need to keep your carb intake as low as possible, choose dark chocolate with 99 percent cocoa. Although it contains some carbs from the cocoa powder, it also is very rich in fiber, leaving less than 1 g of net carbs per serving of 50 g of dark chocolate.
Cheese Platter
A treat doesn't have to taste sweet, and if you enjoy good-quality cheese, a platter of cheese to sample is a good way to indulge without carbs. Aged cheeses have the lowest carb content, while fresh cheeses such as cottage cheese and ricotta cheese contain slightly more. Check the label to make sure a cheese fits in your no-carb diet. Treat yourself to different types of cheddar, blue cheese, goat cheese, Camembert, Brie cheese and other fancy, imported cheeses.
Whipped Cream
For a delicious no-carb treat, whip some whipping cream. Sweeten it with an artificial sweetener, if desired. Add different flavorings to make it more interesting. For example, make chocolate whipped cream by adding unsweetened cocoa powder or add lemon zest for a citrus whipped cream. Also use creme fraiche instead of whipping cream to come up with your own no-carb pudding-like treat.
Meringues
If you miss cookies, prepare meringues. Meringues are mostly made of egg whites and do not contain any flour, which can help you satisfy cookie cravings without compromising your carb intake. Beat a few egg whites with an artificial sweetener until you get stiff peaks. Fold in unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla or other flavorings if desired. Scoop the mixture on a baking sheet and bake in a pre-warmed oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 1.5 to 2 hours or until crisp.
Coconut Smoothie
During summertime, treat yourself with a refreshing low-carb smoothie. Milk and yogurt are too high in carbs for most low-carb eating plans, but you can use coconut milk or coconut cream instead. Sweeten to taste with an artificial sweetener. Add almond butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla or other low-carb flavoring, if desired.
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