Good Low Carbs to Eat

Many people are trying to lose weight these days. Thanks in part to the popularity of the Atkins and South Beach diets, low carbohydrate eating plans have become popular weight loss programs. Simply restricting carbohydrates will not ensure a healthy diet, though. Choosing good low-carb foods to eat will enable you to become a lean, mean low-carb eating machine.

Fruits and Vegetables

• When you think of eating low-carb do you assume it means you can't eat fruits and vegetables? That is not true. You can eat fruits and must eat vegetables. The trick is to pick the lower carb choices to eat.

  Lower carbohydrate vegetables are usually the dark green or leafy ones. Romaine lettuce, spinach and green beans all are good low-carb veggies. Skip white baked potatoes and use small red potatoes or sweet potatoes instead because they are lower in carbs.

  Fruits that have lower carbs include fresh berries such as blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. Other good fruit choices are cantaloupe or honeydew melons.

Meat

• Protein should be your main source of food. Meat contains protein without the carbs. The problem is some meat, such as bacon, ham or ground beef, contains a lot of fat or nitrates. Heart-healthy meats such as skinless chicken breasts, lean beef and fish are good low carbs foods to eat.

  According to the American Heart Association, one egg contains approximately 213 mg of cholesterol. The daily recommendation for people with normal cholesterol is less than 300. This doesn't mean you should skip eggs altogether. Try using egg whites, which are high in protein but low in cholesterol, to make omelets. If you indulge in an egg for breakfast, eat lower cholesterol fish and vegetables for lunch and dinner.

Breads and Grains

• Contrary to what you might believe, breads and grains are a healthy part of a low-carb diet. Whole grains and high fiber are good for low-carb dieters to eat. You can find whole wheat pasta in most grocery stores along with low-carb or whole wheat tortillas and bread. Processed white bread is one of the worst carbs you can eat.

Snacks

• Snacking can be a problem for low carbers. Some low-carb snacks to eat are beef jerky and cheese cubes. Better low-carb snacks choices are nuts or celery stuffed with peanut butter. Sugar-free Jello is a low-carb snack that can play double duty as a dessert or an indulgence during the day.