44 Healthy Low Carb Snacks

If you’re on a low carb diet, you probably cringe when you hear the word snack. Most snacks are loaded with carbs – not exactly ideal if you have diabetes, prediabetes, PCOS or are just trying to follow a low carb diet. And  low carb snacks like nuts or cheese get pretty tiresome after a while … not to mention high in calories if you have portion control “issues”.  And you have vegetables coming out your ears! The good news is that snacks don’t have to be so boring.  Just because you’re on a low carb diet doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself. Snacks can be used to round out the nutritional content of your diet, to hold you over until your next meal or to help satisfy a craving.  What kind of cravings do you have? Salty or sweet? Crunchy or creamy? Many of us have all of these cravings from time to time, so I included a few snacks from each of these categories. Most of the snacks I choose have some redeeming nutritional value. And others contain a little more sugar and/or are more processed, so save them for more occasional snacks. Read on for my top healthy low carb snacks. Happy snacking!

Healthy low carb snacks

• Nutty Cravings
  Nuts are my #1 on my list of healthy low carb snacks. They’ve been shown to help lower cholesterol, decrease risk of diabetes and heart disease as well as aid with weight management and insulin resistance. And they taste good! But if you “go nuts over nuts”  like I do, you may want to consider portion controlled bags (read my previous post on My Midnight Nut Frenzy)

• To control hunger
  Sometimes you are really hungry and an apple or carrots won’t do the trick. Snacks that contain protein, fat and/or more fiber tend to keep you feeling full longer. They can also help prevent blood sugar and insulin spikes.
  

• Mini low carb
  These little snacks are 100 calories or less and 7 gm of carbs or less. They are perfect when you need a little something to take the edge off before your next meal. The low carb content would have a minimal effect on blood sugar levels. If you are on a low calorie diet, these snacks won’t break the bank!

• Crunchy / salty cravings
  Most of my clients tell me they crave salty and crunchy snacks like chips and other snack foods. However these snacks tend to be the highest in fat and salt. The good news is that there are many alternatives like certain brands of popcorn and chips that are much healthier. Some of these snacks even contain ingredients like kale, seaweed and chick peas. 
  

• Sweet Cravings – (some are healthier than others!)
  Sweets are the #1 craving my clients tell me they have … especially the women! I can certainly relate to this! (Read my previous blog post on How Money Controlled My Intake of Sweets)  And even if you have diabetes, you can still incorporate some “sweets” into your diet. They key word here is moderation. While fruit is the healthiest You will note that I included some desserts into this list.  I often ask my patients to pay attention to how various foods make them feel. If eating something sweet sets you off, you may be best off not even starting with it!
  

Here are some healthy snacks ….   What are your favorite snacks?