Low Carb Snacks For Weight Loss

Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by

Low carb snacks can fit into any weight loss diet plan. As long as they are in moderation, you should be okay. Eating a diet high in carbohydrates is used by many as a way to gain weight or even maintain their weight. Carbohydrates are not as healthy for you as most people think but that doesn’t mean you have to completely avoid them.

Low carb diet has been gaining popularity in the last decade. It has attracted more and more people, who try to maintain a low carb diet, filled with more proteins, vegetables and fruits. They do this to bring their body in a ketosis state. There are special diets for people following low carb diet. If you want to know more about Low Carb Snacks For Weight Loss, make sure you read this article.

Low Carb Snacks For Weight Loss

What low carb snacks are good? There’s a simple rule: The best low carb snack is no snack.

That’s right. Snacks are usually not needed on low carb, as hunger should be reduced when doing it right.

 If you’re still hungry, you may want to add more protein, fibrous low carb veggies, or a little more healthy fat or to your meals.

That said, we know that everyone wants a snack once in a while. So here are some great options and a few common mistakes to avoid.

No preparation needed

Low-carb snacks: no preparation needed

The numbers are net carbs (total carbs minus fiber carbs) in 100 grams (3.5 ounces.)

 That means that 100 grams of cheese contains 2 grams of net carbs.

Plain Yogurt With Berries
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Plenty of low-carb diet trends have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, from the Atkins diet to the keto diet. But people have reportedly been using low-carb diets in hopes of achieving their health goals for centuries. In fact, ancient Greek Olympians might have adhered to low-carb high-protein diets for training, according to an article published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Whether you’ve adopted a popular low-carb diet or a general low-carb style of eating, it’s helpful to have a lineup of reliable low-carb snacks that can keep your energy up throughout the day. Need some inspiration? Here’s everything you need to know about choosing healthy low-carb snacks, plus some low-carb snack ideas to get you started.

The Advantages of Choosing Low-Carb Snacks

As mentioned, choosing low-carb snacks can help you stay on target if you’re trying to follow a low-carb diet. But it bears mentioning that low-carb diets aren’t optimal for everyone, and that your body requires carbs to function. “You consume foods that contain carbohydrates and convert them into glucose [blood sugar] which you use for energy for everything from breathing, to exercise, to thinking and moving,” says Amy Shapiro M.S., R.D., a registered dietician and the founder of Real Nutrition.

That said, consuming carbs can have negative implications at times. When you eat carbs, your blood sugar rises, and eating carbs (especially simple carbs such as candy and fruit juice) on their own can cause your blood sugar to rapidly spike and crash, as Shape previously reported. “When you eat foods with low carbohydrates you tend to manage your blood glucose better,” says Shapiro. “This can lead to more even energy, fewer blood sugar dips, and over time fewer cravings.”

With that in mind, following a low-carb diet — through food choices such as low-carb snacks — make senses for some people. “[A low carb diet] is ideal for anyone who wants more even energy levels and is beneficial for those who have diabetes or hyperglycemia,” says Shapiro. (That’s because both are marked by high blood sugar.) There isn’t a definitive limit to how many carbs you can consume on a low-carb diet, but generally dieters consume 50 to 100 grams of carbs a day versus the standard recommendation of a daily intake of 225 to 325 grams, says Shapiro.

BTW, even if you have no intention of following a low-carb diet, it can be helpful to choose a low-carb snack when you won’t be eating for more than a few hours, says Shapiro. Your body digests foods that contain fat or protein alongside carbs more slowly than foods with carbs alone.

How to Choose the Best Low-Carb Snacks

For a low-carb option, look for snacks with 10 grams of carbs or less, says Shapiro. You can go with whole foods such as non-starchy vegetables and nuts or choose from the many packaged snacks available. “If you are buying a packaged snack that claims to be ‘low-carb,’ make sure to read the ingredients,” advises Shapiro. “It often will contain artificial sweeteners and/or sugar alcohols which can be bad for you and may cause GI distress and upset.”

If you’re ready to stock up your fridge and pantry, you can find some of Shapiro’s favorite low-carb snacks below.

Best Low-Carb Snacks to Buy

Vermont Smoke & Cure Orignal Beef and Pork Sticks

Vermont Smoke & Cure Meat Sticks
AMAZON

If you’re looking to stock up on high-protein low-carb snacks, consider making room in your pantry for jerky. With 80 calories, zero grams of carbs, and six grams of protein per serving, these sticks are a tasty way to stave off hunger.

Mini Babybel Original Semisoft Cheese

Mini Babybel Original Semisoft Cheeses - 6ct

Buy It, $4

Most kinds of cheese are low in carbs, including these Babybel Original Semisoft Cheeses. The chunks of cheese are individually wrapped, making them a convenient grab-and-go snack. They contain zero carbs, five grams of protein, and 10 percent of the daily recommendation of calcium.

Chobani Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt

Chobani Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt - 32oz

Buy It, $5

Plain Greek yogurt is another high-protein snack with no added sugar. Both non-fat and whole milk varieties are low in carbs, with five grams and six grams per six ounces, respectively. If you’re not a big fan of the taste of plain yogurt, you can dress it up with your favorite low-carb toppings, such as berries or pecans.

Good & Gather Unsalted Raw Mixed Nuts

Unsalted Raw Mixed Nuts - 9oz/10ct - Good & Gather

Buy It, $10

Nuts and seeds are an excellent source of healthy fats and nutrients such as magnesium and potassium, and the foods have a low carb content, notes Shapiro. There are six grams of carbs in this these nutty snack packs, which combine almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, and pistachios.

GimMe Organic Roasted Seaweed Snack Sea Salt

GimMe Organic Roasted Seaweed Snack Sea Salt .35oz

Buy It, $2

Don’t overlook seaweed as a healthy snack option. It’s a great source of vitamin C (no pun intended) as well as iodine, magnesium, and zinc. With 25 calories per serving, and one gram of carbohydrates, this seaweed pack is a tasty low-carb teat for light snacking.

RX Nut Butter Vanilla Almond Butter Spread

RX Nut Butter, Vanilla Almond Butter, Keto Snack, Gluten Free, 10oz Jar

This vanilla-flavored almond but spread has nine grams of carbs per two tablespoons. For a filling, low-carb snack combo, spread the almond butter along stalks of celery, which is low in calories and carbs.

Fresh Berries

Driscoll's Strawberries

Even on a strict low-carb diet such as the keto diet, it’s not necessary to completely eliminate fruits, which provide important nutrients. Berries are fruits with some of the lowest carb contents, so you’ll probably want to consider giving them a place in your diet. To give you an idea, strawberries have eight grams of carbs per 100 grams of berries.

Eggs are a great low carb option.

 Keep a few hard-boiled eggs ready for when you need a perfect snack. Feel free to add mayonnaise.

Nuts are a low carb snack favorite. But be careful as the carbs quickly add up, especially if you eat cashews. Choose lower-carb macadamia, Brazil or pecan nuts instead. Low carb nuts guide 


Here is a short summary of the guide where we share the best and worst snacks to eat on a low carb diet.


Snack recipes

Are you ready to do some preparations for an awesome low carb snack? Check out our fantastic low carb snack recipes, like these top choices:

Top 6

  • Low carb sesame crispbread1g
  • Keto egg mice1g
  • Bacon-wrapped halloumi cheese5g
  • Spicy almond and seed mix3g
  • Keto garlic bread1g
  • Keto bread twists2

DD+ MEMBERSHIP

Are you ready for a reset?

You’ve probably tried to reach your goals in the past, but in today’s world, it can be hard to be healthy.

The New Me 2-Week Reset can help you lose weight — and keep it off — by forming healthy habits that last.

Vegetable sticks and dip

Low-carb snacks: vegetable sticks

Numbers are digestible carbs (net carbs) per 100 grams (3½ ounces).

Carbs list

See the complete carbs list for keto veggies and dips

Vegetable sticks are relatively low carb, except for carrots, which are slightly higher. Low carb vegetables guide 

Dip: Add cream cheese or any low carb and high-fat dip sauce.

 Just make sure not to go overboard as the calories can add up quickly.

Here are our top recipes:

Top 6

  • Guacamole5g
  • Keto Caesar dressing1g
  • Mayonnaise0.1g
  • Keto Ranch dip1g
  • Wasabi mayonnaise1g
  • Chimichurri3g

Berries and cream

Low-carb snacks: berries and cream

Berries are decently low carb sweets. But if you’re on a strict low carb diet you may need to make them an occasional treat. Blueberries have the most carbs. Low carb fruits and berries guide 

Heavy whipping cream – 
forget low-fat fake cream. Get real heavy whipping cream, ideally at 40 percent fat and definitely unsweetened (the natural sweetness is quite enough once you get used to it). Whip and have it with your berries. Note that this is absolutely delicious and easy to over-consume, which may slow down weight loss. So try to not overdo it.

Cottage cheese- If you’re looking for a higher protein snack, consider adding cottage cheese to your berries for a delicious and higher satiety approach.

Recipes

  • Berries and whipped cream6g
  • Crunchy keto berry moussedd plus icon3g
  • Keto pancakes with berries and whipped cream4g

Chocolate

Digestible carbs per 100 grams (3½ ounces)

Low-carb snacks: Chocolate

Chocolate is not low carb. However, you can occasionally get away with one or two thin squares of high-cocoa chocolate (70%+) even on a strict low carb diet. On a more liberal low carb diet you could do it regularly.

  • One small thin square (10 grams or less than half an ounce) of 86 percent chocolate contains about 2 grams of carbs.
  • Switch to 70% chocolate and you get about 3.5 grams per square.
  • Regular chocolate can be 6 grams of carbs or more per square – not an option if you want to stay low carb.

More options

Keto snacks: pork rinds and beef jerky

Beef jerky: Note that almost all available commercial options have added sugar, which is why a normal carb count is 9 grams per 100 grams (3½ ounces). We recommend you look for brands with no added sugar, or make your own.

Chips recipes

  • Keto cheese chips2g
  • Keto salami and cheese chips1g
  • Kale chips0.2g
  • Low carb zucchini nacho chips2g
  • Zucchini chips4g

Common mistakes on low carb

Low-carb snacks: common mistakes

Caffe Latte: Note that there is a quite a lot of milk in this, and milk is around 5 percent carbs (from lactose, or milk sugar). To keep the carbs low, drink black coffee, or add (if you need to) a few teaspoons of milk or cream.

Juice and functional waters: Juice and many flavored waters contain a lot of sugar. Avoid them.

Fruit: Fruit is candy from nature and contains plenty of sugar. It’s not nearly as bad as drinking juice, as the fiber in fresh fruit helps decrease the amount of sugar absorbed by the gut. But, because it’s still fairly high in carbs, fruit will have to be limited or avoided on a strict low carb diet. A more liberal low carb diet allows for a bit more fruit consumption. Bananas and grapes contain the most sugar of all fruit. Check out the best options in our low carb fruits guide 

Cashew nuts: These contain a lot of carbs (other nuts are a lot lower). 

Carbs list

Note: Carbohydrate information for beverages is provided in common serving sizes rather than per 100 grams:

Really terrible options

Low carb snacks: Terrible options

These options are all bad on a low carb diet, as they are high in refined carbs and sugars. Avoid whenever possible.

Carbs list

Also be very skeptical of “low carb” versions of chocolate, cookies, etc. Not only do these products tend to encourage more sugar cravings, they are also usually full of sugar alcohols. Some of these sugar alcohols raise blood sugar, making it harder to lose weight.


21 great low carb snacks

  1. Egg muffins. One of the best time-saving breakfasts of all time, hands down, and also a great snack.
  2. Keto garlic bread. Deliciously crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and only 1 gram of carbs per piece.
  3. Keto quesadillas. Cook up this Mexican-inspired appetizer ASAP. Decadent. Cheesy. And officially keto! Easy to make, tasty, and pretty enough to make you look like a celebrity chef. Serve them up as is or decked-out with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Olé!
  4. Sesame crispbread. Do you love to sink your teeth into something crunchy every now and then? Then this is for you.
  5. Cheese chips. Looking for a crunchy chip to snack on or to enjoy with guacamole or dip? This two-ingredient fix will keep you satisfied!
  6. Onion rings. Make your own low carb and gluten-free onion rings in the oven – simple and delicious.
  7. Tortilla pizza. These mouthwatering mini-pizzas are as big on flavor as they are low in carbs. In just a few minutes you’ll be snacking on a gooey pizza loaded with all the lip-smacking stars of this Italian classic.
  8. Creamy keto shrimp tacos. Why should taco fillings have all the fun? In this recipe, the cheesy taco shells share the starring role with shrimp in a luscious cream sauce.
  9. Salami and cheese chips. A crunchy low carb snack that only takes minutes to prepare. Salami and cheese in a delicious combination. Perfection!
  10. Zucchini chips. Do you miss potato chips on a low carb diet? Now you don’t have to. You’ll need several zucchinis for a bowl of these chips, but they are truly delicious!
  11. Low carb granola bars. A healthier and lower-carb option to all the sugary bars out there. Make your own bars with nuts, seeds, healthy fats and truly dark chocolate.
  12. Cheese roll-ups. It’s perhaps the fastest, most simple low carb snack you can make – and it tastes great. Cheese roll-ups are perfect as a low carb snack that you’ll make in just a few seconds.
  13. Cheddar cheese and bacon rolls. Cheese and bacon! What’s not to love? This awesome keto snack is easy and quick to make.
  14. Kale chips. Do you want healthy and tasty green chips with very few carbohydrates? We usually have kale in the holiday season, so we made some and found that they were quite tasty.
  15. Eggs on the go. Here’s an inspiring way to take your eggs on the road! With so many ways to prepare eggs, this one ups the fun factor, with optional, creative filling choices. Egg-cellent!
  16. Bacon-wrapped halloumi cheese. These wonderful salty treats can be served as a snack or an appetizer. Serve them on top of your favorite vegetables and leafy greens and you’ll have a delicious and filling salad.
  17. Baked mini bell peppers. These peppers may be tiny, but their flavor is mighty! Bursting with creamy cheese, chorizo, savory herbs and a pop of chipotle.
  18. Salad sandwiches. Who says a great sandwich needs bread? These fun keto salad sandwiches are proof that lettuce can work just as well.
  19. Low carb cream cheese with herbs. This low carb cream cheese with herbs is so easy to make!
  20. Baked cheese. This low carb baked cheese is salty, tangy and flavorful.
  21. Caprese snack. A plate is a blank canvas begging for sights and sounds. And this caprese fills the plate with scents, colors, and you provide the sound.

Leave a Comment