Carb Commando - Low Carb Foods

Low Carb Foods Can Be Delicious

By now you know that most low carb foods limit your intake severely, especially during the first two weeks. So once you've cleared your cabinets, refrigerator and freezer of things you know you can't have, you have to fill them with things you know you can have. But how do you know that? What else must you learn about low carbohydrates before you're fully an expert on the topic?

"Induction" to low carb foods

The first two weeks of a low carb diet is called the Induction Phase on Atkins, and this is the hardest time. But you can make it through it, we have no doubt. Now is when you'll really get familiar with what low in carb food is all about.

Here's an example of a tasty low carb snack.

The obvious things you can have on a low carb diet are meat, eggs and cheese. Some suggest a "meat fast" for three to five days. During this time, you can only have meat, fish, poultry, two eggs a day (if you want them) mayonnaise and mustard. You cannot have dairy, cheese or vegetables.

Here's actually what they suggested as low carb foods to have on hand during this time:

In the fridge, keep a pork roast, beef roast or turkey breast, sliced and ready to go.
Fry some bacon and keep it on hand for a snack. This counts as low carb candy for sure.
Fry some fried chicken wings for a snack, using lightly seasoned crushed pork rinds. Make sure you use olive oil to fry them.

Your meat during this meat fast cannot be breaded in anything but crushed pork rinds, you can't use sauces and you have to go light on the seasoning. In addition, you can only fry your meat in olive oil or clarified butter. Roasting or baking your meat is acceptable.

Other basic low carb foods include meal replacement shakes and bars. Now, these will take some getting used to, especially the shakes. They're more like a low carb drink. They can be at room temperature, and the consistency is more like flavored skim milk--only slightly thicker than water. Of course, you can buy protein powder and low carb milk to make your own low carb shake, which might be slightly better. Throw some ice in the blender and you'll get a much better consistency too.

Phase Two of Any Plan for Low Carb Foods

During this phase, you're allowed to have more carbs, but you still have to watch it. Read labels and compare foods labeled as low carb foods to the full carb versions.

It could be something that didn't have a lot of carbs to begin with is now being labeled as a low carb diet food to sell more. They'll charge you more too! Always take your counter to the store with you so you know which you really can have and which ones to avoid.

There are actually some low carb foods out there that are tasty. No, seriously. Like fruit and veggies. One low carb food that's particularly good is, believe it or not, bread that falls into this special category. This is good news to bread lovers! Can you eat a lot of it? No. Absolutely not. But should you try it? Yes. Absolutely. Anything to make your low carb diet more bearable will make it easier for you to stick with it.

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