Low Carb Snacks

Many people, in the quest for losing weight and incorporating healthier foods, are on low carb diets. A low carb diet basically means eating meats, eggs, plenty of leafy and non-starchy vegetables, berries, cheese, and a certain amount of whole grains. It is also about eliminating potatoes, starchy pastas and breads, or any food made of refined flour and sugar. The main trouble with a low carb diet, however, is to find low carb snacks that are readily available, since most conventional snacks are loaded with sugar and starch. So, here are a few suggestions for low carb snacks that are not only healthy but also tasty. However, you will not find these low carb snacks in any snack machine, hence you need to plan them well ahead. Having low carb snacks prepared in advance is actually a very handy practice, since it will prevent you from snacking on high carb snacks.

Hot ‘n Spicy Stuffed Mushrooms

3 8-oz packets of button mushrooms, large
1 lb bulk sausage
1 8-oz packet cream cheese
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tsp red pepper, crushed

Clean the mushrooms and remove the stems. Put cooling racks in a large sized baking pan. Place the mushrooms tightly together on the racks. Brown the garlic and sausages in a skillet, and drain off the extra fat. Then add the cream cheese and red pepper, and cook on low heat, stirring continuously until the cheese melts. Then remove from the heat. Stuff the mushrooms with this mixture using a small spoon, then place the stuffed mushrooms in a preheated oven and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Crunchy Yogurt

6 cups yogurt, vanilla flavored
4 granola bars, cinnamon, or peanut butter, or oats-n-honey
1/2 cup nuts, toasted and chopped, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts
1/4 quart strawberries, hulled and sliced

Put the yogurt in a bowl. Crush the granola bars and add it and the nuts to the yogurt. Stir it all well so that all the ingredients are combined and then put this mixture into cups. Use the strawberries as garnish and serve.

Fishy Deviled Eggs

6 eggs, hard boiled and cut into halves with the yolks removed
1/3 cup fish, any type you like, already prepared
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tbsp dill, chopped
Salt and pepper, according to taste
Sprigs of dill, for the garnish
Caviar, optional

Mix the prepared fish, cooked yolks, chopped dill, sour cream, mayonnaise, pepper and salt in a small bowl. Then either pipe or spoon this mixture into the hollow egg whites. Garnish these with sprigs of fresh dill and caviar.

Cheesy Turkey Tacos

1 lb ground turkey
3 cups of blended cheese, chopped into shreds
1 1.25-oz packet taco seasoning mix
1/2 cup water
2 cups lettuce, shredded
1/2 cup low-carb taco sauce or salsa

Take a non-stick frying pan and cover the bottom with half a cup of the blended cheese, and fry until it becomes light brown on one side. Drain the excess fat. Use a large spatula to turn it over and cook until it becomes light brown in color on the other side too, and then drain off the excess fat. Then, removing it from the skillet, place it over a wooden dowel that is 1 inch in width that is suspended between two large sized cans, placing paper towel under them in order to catch the excess fat that drains off. Repeat this process three times, and reserve the cheese that is left over. Let the shells cool until they harden. In the meantime, cook the ground turkey in a non-stick skillet until it browns, drain off the excess fat, and then add the seasoning mix, and mix it in well. Add some water and bring it to a boil. Then reducing the heat, cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Fill the cheese shells with the taco meat and the lettuce. And then top each of the tacos with some of the taco sauce and the rest of the cheese.

Quick and Easy Ideas for Low Carb Snacks

Apart from the above low carb snack recipes, it is also a good idea to have a few quick low carb snacks around, which can be real life savers:

• Sticks of celery with cream cheese spread on them.
• Various nut butters, free of sugar.
• Boil some eggs and keep them around for when you feel sudden hunger pangs.
• Cheese cubes are a great accompaniment with just about anything, and yummy by themselves.
• Guacamole, olives, pre-cooked or leftover meats.
• Toasted low carb nuts such as pecans, macadamias, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, almonds.
• Grill mushrooms after topping them with mornay sauce or cheese.
• Various types of roll ups: for example, you could use slices of cheese, cabbage leaves that are lightly steamed, grilled slices of eggplant, lettuce leaves and fill them up with any low carb filling you like and roll them up.
• Grate your favorite cheese and use it for stuffing vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocados, and refrigerate and slice. You could also grill them up.
• Create an antipasto platter made up of low carb delicacies and store in the refrigerator for a quick snack when you feel the urge to.