Low Carbohydrate Diet Foods

Carbohydrates are always in the news. Some people say they are good for you, while others say you should stay away from them. You do need carbohydrates in your diet, but too many can cause weight gain, and that is why many people want to cut back on their carbohydrate intake.

Meats

• Meats contain proteins, which are essential for building strong muscles. If you are watching your carbs, eat lean meats such as, buffalo, elk, grass-fed beef, venison, and goat. Low-carbohydrate poultry includes duck, chicken, turkey, pheasant, quail and emu.

  Certain fish are also low in carbohydrates. These include salmon, halibut, pike, arctic char, sardines, mackerel, trout, smelts, pickerel, and herring. Other seafoods considered low in carbs are abalone, clams, mussels, lobster, crab, shrimp, and scallops.

Vegetables

• Vegetables are supposed to be a big part of your diet. If you are cutting back carbohydrates, consider the vegetables you eat. Some vegetables contain more carbs then than others. For lower-carb vegetables, consider leafy green vegetables such as cabbage, kale, spinach, lettuce, watercress and beet greens.

  Flowering vegetables low in carbs are broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and artichokes. Celery, leeks, rhubarb, and asparagus are called stern vegetables, and they are also considered low-carb.

  Low-carbohydrate fruiting vegetables are cucumbers, summer squash, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes. Sprouting vegetables such as onions, garlic, alfalfa and red clovers are good for a low-carb diet as well. If you want to include algae, consider chlorella or spirulina.

  You may not think of herbs as containing carbohydrates, but many do. On the list of low-carb herbs are basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, cilantro and mint.

  To avoid higher-carb vegetables, stay away from cassava root, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tapioca and yams.

Low-Carbohydrate Meal

• To create a low-carbohydrate meal, combine many of the aforementioned foods. For breakfast, have three eggs cooked any style and one or two servings of mixed vegetables.

  For lunch, have a salad with a portion of protein -- for example, a green salad with chunks of chicken along with strawberries and a strawberry vinaigrette dressing.

  Include a snack during your day. You can have 1/2 cup cottage cheese, or substitute cottage cheese for ricotta, which contains 1 more g of carbohydrates. Include one medium wedge of cantaloupe to make it complete.

  For dinner, grill 5 oz. of salmon. Bake it or broil it if you prefer. Combine this with one serving of garlic green beans, one cup of broccoli, and a few pine nuts.