Low-carbohydrate diets are a popular way to lose excess weight. There are low-carb versions of just about every manufactured food, but for natural choices there are almost as many choices. Living your life on a low-carb diet is not a short-term choice; it's more of a whole change in eating habits. This means you give up some things that you enjoy, adapt recipes to include the things you can't live without and learn to shop smart.
Meats
All meats are allowed on a low-carb diet, including beef, chicken, pork and seafood. The only thing to avoid in the meat category is artificial crab meat. Meats provide a great deal of vitamins and proteins that your body needs. A low-carb diet is ideal for natural meat eaters.
Veggies
Fresh green vegetables including green beans and spinach provide iron and vitamins while being low-carb foods. Cauliflower, broccoli and zucchini are also popular low-carb, fresh veggie choices. Veggies bought for a low-carb diet must be fresh.
Fruits
The selection isn't quite as large for low-carb fresh fruits. Due to the amount of natural sugar in fruit, most of them aren't designated as low-carb. The main choices with the lowest carbohydrates and sugar are cantaloupe, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. Lemons and limes are occasionally a good choice.
Dairy
Cheeses and milks, whipping cream, yogurt, cottage cheese and eggs are all low-carb choices. This food group gives a great deal of variety to the low-carb diet, as well as providing calcium and vitamins that are good for your body.
Desserts
Sugar-free gelatin, sugar-free pudding, low-carb cake recipes and low-carb cinnamon rolls are all good desserts. Many low-carb dieters substitute Splenda brand sweetener for sugar in their recipes.
Breads
Breads are generally frowned upon as a low-carb food choice. However, there are many low-carb products and recipes that provide you with at least a small amount of bread so you don't feel deprived. The Atkins diet bread makes for a good low-carb sandwich.
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