A quick look at the snack aisle will show that Americans love their crunchy foods. If you're on a low-carb diet, you may notice, sadly, that protein and fat don't offer much crunch. Fortunately, there are a number of options for adding crunch to your low-carb diet, including produce, which is an excellent source of the healthy complex carbohydrates you need for health.
Produce
On a low-carb diet, there are a number of fruits and vegetables you can eat raw that are crunchy, including celery, cucumbers, bell peppers, zucchini, broccoli, pickles, lettuce, apples and jicama. Top celery or apples with cream cheese or natural peanut butter. Use lettuce in a salad or as a wrap to hold other foods. Serve crudites with low-carb dips or dressings.
Nuts
Nuts are a great low-carb snack when eaten in moderation. Consider walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts and macadamia nuts. You can lightly toast nuts to bring out their natural favor or get them flavored with herbs, spices or artificial sweeteners. You can ground raw sunflower seeds into a paste, roll it very thin and bake a delicious and crunchy low-carb cracker. Crush nuts to create a crunchy coating for foods: try macadamia nut-encrusted mahi-mahi, for example.
Pork Rinds
Pork rinds, also called chicharrones, have long been a staple of low-carb diets. According to author and low-carb expert Dana Carpender, pork rinds compare favorably to a number of other snack options. In fact, a 1-oz. serving of pork rinds provides almost as much protein as three eggs. Pork rinds are available in a number of flavors, including savory and sweet. Pork rinds can be crushed to create a crunchy coating: try chicken tenders coated with crushed pork rinds, then sauteed and topped with buffalo wing sauce.
Whole Grains
Depending on the low-carb diet you follow, you may be able to include whole-grain crackers in your meal plans. Examples of whole-grain crackers include Triscuits made from whole wheat, and Wasa Rye Crisp bread. Popcorn also is a whole grain and may have a place in some low-carb diet plans.
Crisps
You can cook slices pepperoni in the microwave on paper towels until crisp for a crunchy snack. Cheese can also be baked slowly into a crisp cracker-like snack or you can purchase commercial cheese crisps.
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