What do pizza, big bowls of pasta and burgers all have in common? If you answered that they're delicious, then you're not wrong. But, aside from being tasty, all of these foods are also high in carbs. Now, we're not talking about the high complex carbs that can be found in sweet potatoes. No, we're talking about the sugary carbs that can cause you to feel run down and sluggish. While a diet rich in complex carbs may be good for us in moderation, when sticking to a well-balanced diet, it's best to limit your intake of simple carbs, such as the kind of carbs typically found in comfort foods and candy.So, how can you continue to enjoy your favorite foods without overloading on simple carbs? We've gathered up five of our preferred healthy alternatives to carbs that will leave you feeling just as satisfied. By following these five simple ingredient swaps, a low-carb diet can be achievable.
Substitute Rice with Cauliflower Rice
Do you love rice dishes? Whether you enjoy rice as a side dish or a main course, if you're currently following a low-carb diet, a rice-filled meal may put you over the recommended limit of carbs. Cauliflower rice is a low-carb alternative to real rice. It has an excellent nutritional makeup and is packed with several vital vitamins and nutrients. Plus, it's incredibly simple to make.With cauliflower rice gaining in popularity each day, more stores are selling it pre-made. This means that you just have to heat it to enjoy it! Now, if you can't seem to find packaged cauliflower rice at your grocery store, don't fret. It's easy to make.Follow the steps below to make homemade cauliflower rice in less than 10 minutes!
First, wash and dry your cauliflower.
Remove all greens, then quarter and core.
If you're using a box grater, cut the cauliflower into chunks and then use the medium-sized side of your grater to grate the cauliflower into a rice-like shape. Or, if you're using a food processor, cut the cauliflower into pieces and use the grater attachment to rice the cauliflower properly.
Transfer your freshly grated cauliflower rice onto a paper towel and press down to remove any leftover moisture. And there you have it! Your cauliflower rice is ready to cook.
Now that you know how to make cauliflower rice, how do you use it? Use your rice in recipes that commonly include rice, such as stir-fries and as a base for curries or stew. If you have leftover cauliflower rice, you can safely store it in the freezer for about two weeks until you're ready to eat it.Try swapping out traditional rice for cauliflower rice in a recipe like this Wild Rice and Millet Stuffing. This recipe is the perfect way to fill your table with wholesome ingredients and attend to everyone's dietary restrictions. This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, egg free, dairy free and soy free. Those with nut allergies can also enjoy it. This rice recipe will have all your guests raving about your cooking skills.
Substitute Pasta with Veggie Noodles
If you're craving a big bowl of pasta but don't necessarily want all of the added carbs that come with it, then we have a solution. Vegetable noodles are a delicious and healthy alternative to pasta noodles. Plus, you'll be able to get an extra serving of veggies with each dish. When swapping vegetables for noodles, we suggest using firm veggies that are easy to spiralize, like zucchini and carrots. Spiralized veggies are a great way to help you and your family eat more vegetables without even noticing. By spiralizing your veggies, you can consume a lesser amount of whole vegetables, while still feeling like you're eating a large portion. In other words, spiralizing helps a small bowl of veggies go a long way.Don't have a spiralizer on hand but still want to enjoy veggie noodles? Swap out your pasta noodles with spaghetti squash! Cooked spaghetti squash can be extracted in long strands, which makes this veggie an excellent substitute in recipes that call for spaghetti or angel hair pasta. Plus, this squash is full of health advantages. It's low in calories, high in fiber and packed with nutrients like vitamin B, iron and zinc. Try spaghetti squash as a low-carb alternative to pasta, or use in a delicious dish like this Parmesan and Garlic Pasta. Just swap the traditional noodles for spaghetti squash noodles, and youll have a delicious low-carb dinner!
Substitute Tortillas and Buns with Lettuce Wraps
Tortillas, hamburger buns and flatbreads are all ways that we love to wrap our food. While these foods might taste great, they are much higher in carbohydrates than other foods. Depending on which diet you're following, you might be trying to cut back on carbs, which means that these high carb foods no longer fit into your lifestyle. If you're searching for a way to enjoy all of your favorite comfort foods without the added carbs that commonly come with them, then we have a solution: lettuce wraps!Don't get us wrong, we love munching on a pizza slice just as much as the next person. With more people following low-carb diets, it's an excellent time to start looking for carb-free bread alternatives, and we've found it. Though lettuce wraps are commonly looked at as an appetizer, with just a little work, they can prove to be just as satisfying as a meal.For a genuinely mouthwatering treat, start turning your favorite carb-heavy meals into salad wraps with these gratifying Grapefruit, Avocado and Crab Couscous Salad Wraps. Hearty, delicious and great for you, these lettuce wraps are the most delightful thing you'll encounter today.
Low-Carb Pizza Crust Instead of Traditional Pizza Crust
Pizza is one of the most popular comfort foods. It's savory, delicious and everything we could hope for in a meal. The downside? It's high in carbs. So how can you enjoy pizza while still watching your carbohydrates and calories? Though the toppings matter, they're often not the biggest source of carbs. In fact, many favorite pizza toppings are quite low in carbs. The biggest source of carbs on a pizza is most often the pizza crust. While swapping out your sauce and cheese for a lighter version might reduce the carb load a bit, the best way to work pizza into a low-carb lifestyle is by baking a low-carb crust. Here are a few of our favorite tips on how to enjoy pizza on a low-carb diet.
Sauce
Most store-bought tomato sauces have a great deal of sugar in them. When choosing a low-carb sauce for your pizza, be sure to read the labels. Products with natural ingredients and no sugar added will likely be the lowest in carbs. Or, take matters into your own hands and make some at home! This Quick and Easy Tomato Sauce Recipe is delicious, made with wholesome ingredients and is ready in under an hour!
Pizza Toppings
When choosing what to top your pizza with, make sure that you're picking low-carb options. Meats and veggies are great examples of low-carb options that you can load onto your pizza. Wondering which veggies are low-carb? Mushrooms, green peppers and olives are just a few of the many low-carb veggies to use as toppings. Fruits like pineapple and starchy root vegetables should be avoided when making a low-carb pizza.
Low-Carb Pizza Crust
Now for the most crucial part, the crust! Though traditional pizza crusts tend to be high in carbs, there are various low-carb alternatives. Almond flour, cassava flour and coconut flour are some of our favorite low-carb flours that make for a delicious pizza crust!For the perfect low-carb pizza crust recipe, try making this Cassava Pizza Crust. Low-carb and gluten free, it's the ideal crust to top with all of your favorite veggies!
Swap Traditional Flour for Almond Flour
Traditional flours are incredibly high in carbs and commonly not permitted on a low-carb diet. That being said, there are still ways that you can enjoy low-carb versions of your favorite recipes. One of which is by swapping traditional flour for a low-carb alternative! When cooking with low-carb flours, it's best to find a specific recipe for that flour. Each recipe is different and will include different ratios in which low-carb flours can be substituted with traditional flour.Looking for a low-carb flour option? Here are a few of our favorites:Coconut FlourAlmond FlourCassava FlourGround Flaxseed MealWe hope this list of healthy substitutes for carbs has inspired you to make these simple swaps in your kitchen. From cauliflower rice to cassava pizza crust, there are several different ways that you can work your favorite comfort foods into a low-carb diet. Have a favorite low-carb swap of your own? We'd love to hear about it. Let us know your low-carb secret in the comments below!