A low-carb diet doesn’t have to be a low-taste or low-enjoyment diet. Try out these delicious, fun, and low-carb substitutions for some of your favorite meals and snacks.
Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Cauliflower is surprisingly versatile. Even if you don’t like the taste, don’t worry! You won’t even know you’re eating a vegetable if you use cauliflower as an ingredient in a low-carb pizza base. Simply steam the cauliflower until it is soft, puree it, and add egg and spices. Form the mixture into a patty, top with your favorite pizza toppings, and bake. The texture is different from regular pizza crust, but it’s just as delicious, and a great way to enjoy a guilty pleasure without the guilt.
Lettuce Tacos
Love tacos but want to reduce your carb intake? A 6-inch flour tortilla contains a whopping 25.58 grams of carbs. Just use a leaf of iceberg lettuce instead of a tortilla as a vehicle for your taco filling next time you get a craving for Mexican food. The filling is the best part anyway.
Coconut Oil Cookies
Coconut oil is the secret ingredient that is a must-have in a low-carb diet. It actively helps you to burn fat and lose weight, as well as boosting your energy and regulating your metabolism. You can use it instead of butter for baking or substitute it for vegetable oil for roasting or stir-frying. But, the possibilities don’t end there. LifeSum has a ton of creative ideas for working coconut oil into your daily diet.
Spaghetti Squash Pasta
Image via Flickr by Thriving Vegetarian
Spaghetti is incredibly versatile, but also incredibly easy to replace with a low-carb alternative. Spaghetti squash is uncannily similar in texture to spaghetti but without all the carbs. All you need to do is cut it in half, remove the seeds, and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 40 minutes. Top with your favorite pasta sauce and enjoy! If you’re looking for something quicker, try using a spiralizer to create instant low-carb noodles out of zucchini or yellow squash.
Kale Chips
A low-carb diet doesn’t mean zero snacking. Try spraying leaves of kale with a little oil and sprinkling with salt and other spices such as paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Bake at a low temperature until crispy and dry. Even if you’re not a kale lover, give it a go. This crunchy, salty snack is a great way to satisfy a craving for potato chips.
Almond Flour Pancakes
Almond flour is a fantastic low-carb alternative to flour that can be used in many baked goods, including cakes, cookies, scones, and even pancakes. If you want to enjoy exactly the same taste and texture as regular baked goods, you can substitute some regular flour for almond flour in your favorite recipes. If you want to significantly reduce your carb intake or just be adventurous, go for a recipe that uses only almond flour.
There are many more ways to substitute carb-heavy ingredients for lighter alternatives, but if you try these ideas out you will be well on your way to living your best low-carb life.