Carb Commando - Finding Good Carbohydrates

Finding Good Carbohydrates

Finding good carbohydrates is a bit like the movie "Finding Nemo." You swim through a sea of carbohydrates, not knowing which types of carbohydrates are good carbohydrates and which are bad. On this page, we'll help guide you through it to get to the carbohydrates you really need.

Good Carbohydrates Guide

Let's start at the grocery store. One of the keys to finding good carbohydrates is sticking to the outside aisles--specifically, the produce department. Fruits and vegetables are filled with fiber, which is a good carbohydrate.

Next you come to the dairy section. Don't let the low carb diet info you've seen fool you--milk is not a high carbohydrate food. It is if you're on a low carb diet, but recent studies have shown that three servings of milk or other low fat dairy (like yogurt, for instance) a day can actually help you lose belly fat!

Next, you come to the meat department. As you may or may not know by now, meat has a lot of protein and no carbs. That's why it's such a hit with low carb dieters. The trickiest part of finding good carbohydrates is in the center aisles of the grocery store. Let's start with the cereal/breakfast aisle (since breakfast is the most important meal of the day).

When it comes to finding good carbohydrates for breakfast, stick with whole grain cereals that aren't sweetened. Of course, you could also choose oatmeal--but not the instant kind or flavored kind. Those are usually loaded with sugar and are, therefore, full of bad carbs. Of course, you could always make an omelet or have a protein shake or bar as well.

Now we come to the bread aisle. Think all bread is bad when you're watching your carbs? Think again. Finding good carbohydrates in the bread aisle actually isn't as hard as you might think. First of all, there are all these new low carb breads. Even though these are low in carbs, they might still have a lot of calories. A better choice is whole wheat or whole grain breads. These provide a good source of fiber, just like fruit and vegetables, which is what makes them okay.

Now you need a side dish to go with your meat and vegetables. (Okay, need is a strong word when it comes to side dishes if you have meat and vegetables.) Most people think of pasta, rice or potatoes. Potatoes are okay once in a while, but they are a starchy vegetable and should be eaten in moderation. Regular pasta and/or white rice is also a no-no if you're looking for good carbohydrates. So what do you do instead? Opt for whole wheat pasta, brown rice, long grain rice or wild rice instead. Seriously--one of our staff writers made the substitution once and said she'd never go back. She said it tasted the same, but the texture was a little chewier. Not enough of a difference to go back to the less healthy versions though.

The next time you go to the grocery store, you should be well-equipped to make good carbohydrate choices.