Food that’s both delicious and good for you.
I wrote a blog post a few weeks ago about how I am starting a low carb lifestyle. I’m trying to get my body to the best it can be. I decided to eat more whole foods rather than processed garbage that I usually eat. It requires a lot more effort, but I’ve already seen a difference in my body. I had a request for some meal planning so I wrote down my favorite healthy low carb meals and snacks.
A low carb diet limits carbohydrates to 30 grams or less a day. Protein, dairy, fruits, vegetables and some fats are free game. I just try to avoid grains, rice and sugar. Potatoes are okay every once in a while, but they aren’t the best either. I just wanted to clear that up. Now let’s get to meal planning!
Low Carb Meals
Breakfast
Every morning, I usually eat turkey bacon and/or an apple with peanut butter. I have an extreme aversion to eggs or else I would eat those too. Adam’s Organic Peanut Butter is my favorite kind, but I’m fairly sure any brand works. Taz and I love fuji apples so we always get a bag of those each week and we get the Columbia turkey bacon from Costco in bulk.
I found a recipe for Cheddar Ranch Cauliflower Bites. I don’t think it is meant to be for breakfast, but it tastes exactly like a breakfast casserole! I’ve only made them once since I keep forgetting, but they’re so delicious! I’ll link the recipe here. Also, one last thing! If you are going to eat carbs, this is the meal to do it. Everything will burn off by the end of the day.
Lunch
I’m one of those people who don’t mind eating the same thing over and over when it comes to lunch. Dinner is different and I don’t know why haha. My favorite low carb meals for lunch usually involve some rotisserie chicken and a salad
I hate touching raw meat and I’m really not good at cooking it either. Taz and I are so busy we just buy a rotisserie chicken at Costco (since it’s only $5!) and eat it throughout the week. It’s an easy way to get protein in the middle of the day.
For my salad, I usually rotate between two different ones. We cut up romaine a few times a week and put it in our refrigerator. Taz found that if we leave it in our salad spinner, it lasts a lot longer since it isn’t sitting in water. The first salad has romaine, parmesan, tomatoes, pepperoni and two tablespoons of Olive Garden salad dressing (my favorite!) The second salad has romaine, tomatoes, feta, and Market Pantry (Target brand) balsamic vinaigrette. It helps me mix up what I’m eating without thinking too hard.
Dinner
When it comes to making low carb meals for dinner, cauliflower is my best friend. I love it! I use it so many different ways. One of our favorite meals is Korean Beef with Cauliflower Rice. When all the spices are mixed in, you can’t even tell the difference. Stir frys are also amazing so add in all the veggies you want! Tacos work really well too! I load up a piece of romaine with seasoned chicken, tomatoes, cheese and salsa. It’s delicious and really filling. Taz usually makes us grilled chicken and veggies a couple times a week, but I am also wanting to try a few other things. A few low carb meals on my list are low carb baked ziti, crustless pizza, loaded zucchini skins and a few others I saved on my Pinterest. I’ve made cauliflower pizza crust too in the past. I liked it, but Taz wasn’t crazy about it.
Low Carb Snacks
Last, but not least, I have a list of some of my favorite low carb snacks. Cuties, sugar snap peas and dark chocolate help me satisfy my sweet tooth during the day. I also love salsa and parmesan crisps. It’s a round of parmesan baked and that’s all! I have a big bag of them and love to eat them. I have an unhealthy obsession with eating chips and these help curb my cravings. Roasted almonds have helped me too, but I don’t eat a ton of them.
I know this article is LONGGGG, but I hope you got some ideas for low carb meals and snacks that you don’t have to feel guilty about. I know I feel my best when I eat this way, but it’s all about what works for you. Don’t forget to reward yourself with an extra episode on netflix or a piece of REAL chocolate every once in a while, because you have to live a little. If I forgot something or you have any questions about living a low carb lifestyle, leave your questions in the comments!
XOXO Kayla
