How to Shop for Low-Carb Foods

Shopping for low-carb food is a fairly simple process. The most difficult step is to be disciplined enough not to throw sweets into your shopping cart. You must be strong-willed and determined to stay on the low-carb path.

Instructions

• 1

  Purchase a book such as "The Doctor's Pocket Calorie, Fat & Carb Counter" by Allan Borushek. Read through it to get an idea of the amount of carbs in some of your favorite foods. Then, look at other foods and consider what you can use as a substitute. For example, try peanuts instead of potato chips.

• 2

  Always look at nutritional information. Take the amount of carbs in each serving and subtract the dietary fiber number. This will be the number of carbs you count in each serving. As you shop, write down the amount of carbs per serving you are putting into your grocery cart.

• 3

  Stay around the outside of the aisles. Low-carb items such as meats, eggs, cheese and some fruits and vegetables usually are on the outside aisles in most grocery stores. The other aisles contain carb-loaded items like chips, cookies, candy, cake mixes, sugar, flour, pasta, cereal and many other items.

• 4

  Choose complex carbs. Pick items higher in fiber if you want to eat carbs.

• 5

  Adjust your beverage choices if necessary. The easiest way to go low-carb is to drink water, but if you purchase drinks at the store, remember a few things. Juices may sound good for you, but most are loaded with sugar. Diet soda is the way to go. If you drink alcohol, stray away from beer. Also, stay away from cocktails like margaritas and daiquiris. They are loaded with sugar. Most wine has only a few carbs and liquor that is not flavored has no carbs.