If you’ve added a few extra pounds during the COVID-19 lockdown, or if you’re busy or on-the-go, here are some low carb snacking tips you can follow in 2021:
1. Keto Bars
Keto bars are a great source of just about the right amount of carbs and fat to keep you going until it's time for a proper sit-down meal. The best thing about keto bars is that they support ketosis, a process wherein a body lacking carbohydrates burns fat instead. Suppose you're on a weight loss journey or thinking of embarking on one—in that case, keto bars are an excellent companion to help you follow through.
When choosing a keto bar, be wary of ones that come with low nutrition values. The best keto bars are made of high-quality, nutritious ingredients, with no added sugars, artificial sweeteners, alcohols, additives, or fillers.
2. Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds
Dark chocolate sea salt almonds are a low carb combination that'll have your senses excited and delighted, while keeping hunger and weight gain at bay.
Although there are more than a few brands selling almonds covered in dark chocolate, making your batch at home can be a fun family activity to do. If you're up for it, this is how you can make your own dark chocolate sea salt almonds:
Ingredients
You'll need 14 ounces of high-quality bittersweet or semi-sweet dark chocolate, one cup of raw, unsalted whole almonds, and sea salt.
Procedure
What you'll want to do first is to line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set it aside. Then, you can proceed to roast almonds for 10 to 15 minutes in an oven preheated to 325 degrees. Once done, let almonds cool to room temperature.
The next step is to bring a small pot of water to a simmer over medium heat, and place a heatproof bowl with chocolate inside over the pot. A little bit before the chocolate is completely melted, remove the pot and the bowl from the heat. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted. You can also use a microwave, making sure you heat the chocolate in 30-second intervals.
Once the chocolate is melted, add and stir with previously roasted and cooled almonds. When almonds are completely covered in chocolate, use two forks to pick up one almond at a time, and place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet. If there's excess chocolate, you can remove it. Let the almonds air dry for an hour. Before the chocolate hardens, sprinkle with sea salt. Once they're dry, peel them off the paper, and store them in a jar.
Losing weight or keeping it in check doesn't mean you have to starve yourself and forget all earthly pleasures, such as chocolate.
3. Lettuce Wraps
When it comes to salad sandwiches or lettuce wraps, healthy, low carb combinations are endless. What you need to do first is to choose your favorite type of lettuce—iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, kale, or collard.
Once you've decided on the type of wrap, it's time to choose what you're going to fill the sandwich with. Here are some ideas you can sift through:
Eggs
Tuna, salmon, or prawns
Vegetables, such as carrots, onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes
Avocado
Tofu
Deli meat
Roasted chicken breast
Any spread such as mustard or mayo
Pro tip: use parchment paper as a base to roll everything together and fold the sides in.
4. Herbed Celery And Cucumber Salad
Herbed celery and cucumber salad is a salad famous among keto evangelists. Here are the ingredients:
Celery stalks
English cucumbers
Fresh, flat-leaf parsley
Fresh mint
Bag of mixed salad greens
Salt and coarse, freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil
5. Tuna And Avocado Boat
The name of this low carb treat comes from a sliced and pitted avocado as the 'boat.’ The avocado hole, referred to as a boat, is filled with tuna that you can spice up with sriracha or any other spice of your liking.
Choose Carefully And Add Variety To Your Diet
A balanced diet with carefully chosen ingredients can help you stay fit and nourished with the right amount and types of nutrients. Keto bars are a great, convenient source of quality carbs and fat to have while on-the-go. Still, to optimize your health, you shouldn’t depend only on them. Instead, add more variety to your diet and incorporate other types of low carb snacks in 2021.
