[null, {"document_url": "https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/low-carb-snacks-make-home-17273.html", "unformatted_src": "images/left_arrow.png", "src": "https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/images/left_arrow.png", "formatted_filename": "left arrow"}, null, {"document_url": "https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/low-carb-snacks-make-home-17273.html", "unformatted_src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/100x100/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/181/92/200464171-001_XS.jpg", "src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/100x100/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/181/92/200464171-001_XS.jpg", "formatted_filename": "XS"}, {"document_url": "https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/low-carb-snacks-make-home-17273.html", "unformatted_src": "images/right_arrow.png", "src": "https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/images/right_arrow.png", "formatted_filename": "right arrow"}, null, {"document_url": "https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/low-carb-snacks-make-home-17273.html", "unformatted_src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/100x100/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/152/33/165507470.jpg", "src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/100x100/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/152/33/165507470.jpg"}, null, {"document_url": "https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/low-carb-snacks-make-home-17273.html", "unformatted_src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/560x560/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/142/215/89793700.jpg", "src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/560x560/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/142/215/89793700.jpg", "alt_text": "Snacking isn't off-limits on a low-carb diet."}, null]
What Are the Benefits of Eating Corn Meal? Is Risotto Gluten-Free? Low Carb Snacks to Make at Home

by Serena Styles 
According to MayoClinic.com, low-carb diets consist of mostly eggs, fish, meat and poultry with a scattering of non-starchy vegetables. This eliminates from meals most dairy, fruits, grains, legumes, sweets, breads, starchy vegetables, nuts and seeds. Because many common snack foods are out of the question on low-carb diets, it’s tempting to reach for prepackaged diet snacks. Unfortunately, most processed low-carb snacks are loaded with other unhealthful ingredients. The best thing for your health and your waistline is to make your low-carb snacks at home and keep a few on hand for when cravings strike.


Eggs are a common low-carb staple and for good reason. They are rich in protein, have few carbohydrates and are easy to cook in large batches. Instead of boiling them, you can bake whole eggs in your oven or steam them, which usually makes them easier to peel when they are hard cooked. Plain, hard-cooked eggs are a convenient snack, but they are usually tastier deviled. Rather than blending the yolks with mayonnaise, moisten them with mustard and vinegar to avoid adding excess carbohydrates. Alternatively, you can make snack cups by beating eggs with seasonings and leafy greens, pouring the batter into cupcake liners and baking them. If you have several hard-cooked eggs, chop them and sprinkle on meat, fish, poultry or non-starchy vegetable chips. One large egg with yolk has just over 70 calories and less than a half gram of carbohydrates.

Fish and Shellfish

The American Heart Association recommends consuming fish regularly to promote heart health and reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death, because they contain omega-three fatty acids. Fattier fish and shellfish such as salmon, shrimp, tuna, Pollock, cod, clams and crab are generally better for you than lean fish such as tilapia. Fish jerky is a carbohydrate-free, portable snack that you can make at home with a food dehydrator. Canned sardines are another quick snack, as are smoked salmon, precooked shrimp and precooked crab, provided you chose low-sodium varieties. Tuna, crab and salmon make tasty dip ingredients if you puree or chop them in a food processor and add cooked eggs, mustard, seasonings, citrus juice or vinegar to preference. The dips are useful for egg salad, non-starchy vegetables and other fish or shellfish. A 3-ounce serving of cooked Alaska king crab has 82 calories and no carbohydrates.


Though meat is typically the feature of a main course, it can be prepared as a snack to liven a low-carb diet. A simple choice is jerky. Homemade chicken bites are another easy option. Skinless chicken breasts rubbed with seasoning, cut up and roasted keep well in the refrigerator or freezer. A 3-ounce serving has 140 calories and no carbohydrates. Mini-meatloaves made in a muffin tin also keep well.


While vegetables have more carbohydrates than some other snack options, non-starchy varieties can fit into a carefully planned diet. Even chopped carrots, which contain starch, have only 26 calories and 6 grams of carbohydrates -- 1.8 grams of which are fiber -- in a 1/2-cup serving. Carrots are tasty chopped, sliced or baked. Most dehydrated or baked non-starchy vegetables may be easily packaged to take with you to school or work. Diced vegetables blended with eggs and cooked in a skillet makes convenient snack patties that you could also use as a bun or sandwich slice replacement.



