Low-Carb Snacks

Low-Carb Snacks What can you snack on when on a low-carb diet?

Certainly not the stuff other people usually eat – like pastries, fruit or sweets. Don’t despair though. Many low-carb snack options are available – you just need to get used to them.

Below are some ideas for different situations, for example, when you are out and about, or when at home but don’t have time to cook.

Net carb counts and recipes are included.

Download printable list of low-carb snacks >>

Low-carb snacks, ready to eat

Finding low-carb snacks when you are out and about is the most difficult part. Here are some ideas for simple snacks you can get from most supermarkets.

1. Nuts

low-carb-snack-nuts-walnuts Nuts like macadamia, Brazil nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds make a perfect low-carb snack. Avoid cashews, chestnuts and pistachios – they are higher in carbs.

Quick tip – buying nuts in bulk is cheaper than in small packets. Stock up in advance and then stash some in your bag as an emergency supply.

2-4g net carbs per 30g (1oz)

2. Cheese

Some supermarkets stock mini-cheese portions, of 30-60g (1-2oz). Any hard cheese makes a good low-carb snack. In the UK, Cheestrings and Babybels are good choices.

0-0.5g net carbs per 30g (1oz)

3. Olives

olives-low-carb-snack Olives are naturally high in fat and low in carbs. Available from most supermarkets. They work really well together with hard cheese too.

1-2g net carbs per 60g (2oz)

4. Celery

celery-low-carb Celery is not the most exciting vegetable, but it is crunchy in a rather satisfying way. Jazz it up with blue cheese or sour cream dip.

1g net carbs per 60g (2oz)

5. Full-fat yoghurt, plain or Greek

Full-fat yoghurt is reasonably low in carbs. Beware its sneaky low-fat brothers though – likely to be laden with sugar. Always check labels.

5-6g net carbs per 90g (3oz)

6. Cherry tomatoes

cherry-tomatoes These lovely bite-size tomatoes are a great snack on their own, or combined with cheese, plain yoghurt or sour cream.

2g net carbs per 60g (2oz)

7. Berries

Berries stand in for fruit on a low-carb diet. The best ones are blackberries, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.

4-6g net carbs per 90g (3oz)

Related post: Low-carb berry recipes

8. Cold meats

low-carb-deli-meat Choose sliced whole meats such as ham or turkey breast, rather than processed or reconstructed versions. Carb counts should be close to zero.

0g net carbs

9. Prawns

Many shops now sell prawns in small snack-size packs, often with a dip. Net carbs in prawns are negligible, but check the info for the dip if there is one.

0-1g net carbs per 90g (3oz)

10. Pepperoni sticks

pepperroni low-carb snack Most shops sell small pepperoni sticks. They are packed full of nasty chemicals but contain hardly any carbs. Ok choice as a last resort.

0-0.5g net carbs per stick

Low-carb snacks from specialist shops

Plan in advance to find some less common low-carb snack options online and in specialist shops. Hoard them at home for when you need a low-carb snack.

11. Biltong

biltong-low-carb-snack Biltong is a South African dried meat snack. Unlike jerky, Biltong marinade contains very little sugar.

0-3g net carbs per pack

12. Pork scratchings

pork-scratchings-pork-rinds-keto Crispy, fatty, salty, zero-carb – what’s not to like? Pork scratchings help to fill the gap left by potato crisps. They are known as pork rinds in USA.

0g net carbs

13. Sugar-free protein shakes

protein-shake Sugar-free protein shakes taste as good as milkshakes! Jazz them up with unsweetened cocoa powder, crushed berries, cream and sweetener. Try sugar-free, low-carb protein powder by Isopure or Atkins Advantage.

1-3g net carbs per portion

14. Sugar-free chocolate

atkins-low-carb-bars Yes – you can have chocolate on a low-carb diet! It’s sugar that you should avoid, not the cocoa.

For example, Cavalier Belgian chocolate has about 3-4g net carbs per 40g bar. Sugar-free candy bars are also available. Atkins range is very popular and suitable for all low-carb diets, not just Atkins.

1-4g net carbs per bar

Related post: Chocolate on a low-carb diet

15. Seaweed

This option is novel, but seaweed is actually a “superfood”, packed with vitamins and nutrients. Available salted and dried from Asian grocers, as sushi sheets or in loose form. The taste is unusual, but nice once you get used to it.

1-5g net carbs per pack

16.

Sugar-free jell-o

jello-snack Sugar-free jell-o is a great low-carb snack, which will also help satisfy your sweet tooth. Make from scratch with gelatine and flavourings, or get sugar-free packets online.

0g net carbs

Low-carb snacks you can make at home quickly

Snacking is easier when you are at home. Here are some ideas for almost instant snacks.

17. Boiled eggs

boiled-eggs-low-carb-snack Eggs are a perfect easy low-carb snack. Jazz them up with full-fat mayo or sour cream, or try making devilled eggs.

0.5g net carbs per egg

18. Avocado

Avocados are low in carbs and high in fat. Mash them up with a bit of salt and pepper, or make into a dessert by adding sweetener and cocoa powder instead (yes, seriously!).

2-4g net carbs per avocado

19. Tuna

tin-tuna-low-carb-high-protein Tuna is the darling of bodybuilders for its high protein content. Like any whole fish, it has zero carbs. Tuna in olive oil tastes much better than versions in water or brine.

Related post: 15 ways to dress up a tin of tuna

0g net carbs

20. Peanut butter

peanutbutter-sugarfree Sometimes, a couple of spoonfuls of unsweetened peanut butter is all you need to get you through the afternoon.
Add some sweetener like sucralose to make it into a sudden instant dessert!

1g net carbs per 1 tbsp

Low-carb snacks to make in advance

Here’s a quick round-up of low-carb snack recipes from around the web.
Make these in advance and keep in the fridge for when the snack cravings strike.

21. Mascarpone mousse

Mix mascarpone (or cream cheese) with sweetener and sugar-free cocoa powder for an instant sweet low-carb snack.

RECIPE: Keto mascarpone mousse recipe

2g net carbs per serving

22. Flax crackers

low-carb-flax-crackers This fantastic recipe includes 2g net carbs PER BATCH of crackers! Perfect substitute for bread- with hardly any carbs.

RECIPE: Rosemary and sea salt flax crackers
by Mellissa Sevigny at I Breathe I Am Hungry

0.1-0.3g net carbs per cracker

23. Low-carb cheese straws

Make low-carb cheese straws with flax, almond flour and lots of cheese.

RECIPE: Low-carb cheese straws

0.2g net carbs per straw

24. Cheddar crisps

low-carb-cheddar-crisps If you can make crisps (that’s chips if you are in USA) out of potatoes, then why not out of cheese?

RECIPE: Spicy Cheddar Chips

by the great low-carb recipe guru Carolyn Ketchum, at All Day I Dream About Food
0g net carbs

25. Low-carb sausage balls

Sausage meat with cheese, baked into a gooey ball of goodness.

RECIPE: Low-carb sausage balls

0.5g net carbs per ball

26. Low-carb Scotch eggs

Boiled eggs wrapped in sausage meat – perfect little parcel of protein and fat.

RECIPE: Low-carb Scotch eggs

1g net carbs per portion

27. Biscuits (cookies if you are American)

Low-carb biscuits are a great way to snack. Here are some of my recipes: amaretti almond biscuits, flourless chocolate biscuits and a savoury option – cheddar pumpkin biscuits.