Keeping A Balanced Diet With Low Carb Food

When going on any type of diet, it is important that you make sure that you stay healthy by balancing your food intake with a variety of protein, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and grains. This can appear to be difficult when going on a low carb diet, because most grains and protein sources are also high in carbs. However, there are a lot of foods that you can eat to keep a balanced diet while sticking with low carb food.

When on a low carb diet, your largest food group will be vegetables. Some vegetables are better than others. Potatoes, corn, beets, and other root vegetables are typically high in carbs, and should be avoided. Good vegetables for a low carb diet include sprouts, greens, celery, broccoli and cauliflower, cabbage and lettuce, mushrooms, cucumbers and squash, asparagus, egg plant, peas, artichokes, carrots, and many other vegetables. Vegetables in general are the food with the lowest carb content. Eat as many as you want.

Many people think that fruit is a no-no when on a low carb diet. In fact, there are many fruits rich in antioxidants that are good low carb foods. Fruits low in sugar are the ones with the least carbs. Low carb fruits include berries, grapefruit, melons, and most tree born fruit like apples, pears, and cherries. Check carb counts when eating any fruit to make sure that they are a low carb food. Don't eat too many fruits, but some fruit should be included in the low carb diet for balanced nutrition.

Dairy products are surprisingly high carb content foods. While dairy should be limited on a low carb diet, some dairy products are necessary for a balanced diet. When choosing low carb dairy foods check the labels carefully. Stick with soy based dairy products, as these will be your best bet for low carb content and food high in calcium and Vitamin D.

When eating meats, you need to make sure that you choose low carb foods. Not all meats are high in protein and low in carbs. Organ meats are particularly high in carbs. The best meats to eat are the leaner cuts of beef and chicken breasts. Avoid fatty cuts of meat and dark poultry, as these will have both higher carbs and higher fat content.

When it comes to choosing low carb food from the grain food group, you need to pay close attention to labels. Grains have valuable fiber and minerals that are important for balanced nutrition. But many grains are extremely high in carbs. The best low carb food choices for grains are whole grains such as whole wheat flour, whole grain rice, and whole grain pasta. In order for the carb count to be lower, the food must read whole grain.

In the end, there is no reason not to eat a healthy, balanced nutritional diet when trying to stick to low carb food. Make sure you cover all of the recommended food groups, and watch those food labels!