When you’re starting a new diet, one of the most overwhelming aspects of finding your rhythm is figuring out what you can and cannot eat.  Each diet has its own set of rules to follow and it can be tricky, especially when you realize that some foods you thought were good for you might actually be preventing you from being successful! If you’re following a low-carb diet, there are a couple of obvious candidates for food you should avoid (candy and soda), but there are some foods that have been disguised as nutritious and we’re here to call them out.

Foods To Watch Out For On Low Carb Diets

If you’ve decided to embark on the path towards a low-carb diet, there are some foods that you’ll definitely want to eat less of.  Some of these sneaky foods might surprise you.

Fruit

What!  Fruit?  It’s fruit!  How on earth can it not be suitable for a diet?  While some fruits are great in moderation for low-carb dieting, the majority of fruits are packed full of sugar and in turn, are very high in carbohydrates.

Take bananas for example.  While delicious and known to contain several different nutrients, on a low-carb diet, a banana is nearly as bad as eating a slice of cake.  Coming in at a whopping 27 carbs for a single banana, that can spell doom for low-carb dieters.  Many fruits contain vitamins and other nutrients, but make sure you check your carb count before diving into that bowl of pineapple.

High Carb Vegetables

Come on, vegetables too?  Yep!  While veggies are the backbone of many diets, if you’re taking the low-carb route, there are some sneaky vegetables that are much higher in carbs than others.

Potatoes are arguably one of the most beloved figures in the vegetable kingdom, but unfortunately, these starchy bad boys are packed with carbs.  This can be said for most vegetables that grow below ground, and many gourds including pumpkin, squash, and others.  Corn is also another favorite that often gets mistaken for health food, but it’s sugary, starchy, and doesn’t make up for it in the fiber it provides.  That’s not to say these guys are completely off the menu, but it’s important to eat them in moderation if you’re counting carbs.  Chips, fries, and other crunchy snacks add up quickly.

Bread

We often hear that whole grains are the way to go.  However, there are some keywords to watch out for that sound great for marketing purposes but don’t necessarily mean a food is healthy or in line with your current way of eating.  Whole grain, organic, all-natural, and no sugar added are some common items you’ll see on the outside of the bread bag.  But when it comes to counting carbs, always check your nutritional label.

However, there is hope for the bread lovers out there.  There are now several brands of bread that are focused on low-carb diets, as well as wraps and bread alternatives.

Beer

Beer, while delicious, is essentially liquid bread.  It’s made with many of the same ingredients that bread is made with, including grains and yeast.  As is the case, most beer is not only very high calorie but also high in carbs.  In recent years, many brands have begun to produce low-carb beers.  But in our opinion, there are other adult beverages to enjoy that won’t bust your macros the same way this bar favorite will.

Foods Great For Low Carb Diets

Enough about foods you shouldn’t eat.  Let’s talk about the foods you can chow down on!  The following foods are champions when it comes to low-carb dieting.  And while everything should be enjoyed in moderation, you can enjoy these bad boys just a little more than some other foods we’ve discussed.

Eggs

We could go on all day about how much we love eggs.  They’re perfect, protein-packed, low-carb, and inexpensive darlings!  In our opinion, eggs are just about as close to perfect as you can get.  They’re loaded with vitamins and minerals, help even out cholesterol, and are popular brain food.  They’re versatile and can be eaten for any meal, and ane boiled egg has less than 1 gram of carbs, making it ideal for snacking or staring in a meal alongside some of our other favorites.  We’re egg-heads and proud of it!

Meat and Fish

On a low carb diet, meat and fish are absolutely on the menu.  Many diets focus on cutting fat.  But we’re here to tell you that we’re bringing the fat back!  That juicy piece of fatty prime rib staring at you from the buffet carving station is all yours, friend.  If surf is more your thing, there’s nothing quite like a lovely piece of salmon pan-roasted in a bit of olive oil until the skin is nice and crispy.  And don’t forget about breakfast.  On a low-carb diet, bacon may as well be health food, and we gotta say…we’re totally here for it.

Cheese

We don’t want to get too cheesy on you, but cheese is a wonderful source of fat while following a low-carb lifestyle.  Fat keeps you from feeling hungry and is a great source of fuel for your body.  Cheese is practically nothing but fat.  It also makes a variety of low-carb dishes infinitely better.  Cheesy scrambled eggs with a side of bacon (or even better, steak) are a thing of beauty.

Low Carb Vegetables

Remember how we said not all vegetables are bad guys?  Vegetables are still one of the cornerstones of nutrition.  It’s just about figuring out which ones will do your body the most good.  Some of our favorites include avocados, cauliflower, brightly colored bell peppers, green beans, asparagus, and cucumber.  In fact, cauliflower is one of the most versatile vegetables we can think of.  It can be a substitute for rice, mashed potatoes and is baked into many kinds of low-carb breads (even pizza crusts!).

Start Your Low Carb Journey

Still confused?  That’s okay, it’s a lot to take in.  That’s why MealMD has developed its science-based meal plan to take all of the guesswork out of eating low carb.  We prepare fresh, never-frozen, fully cooked meals for you to enjoy 6 days a week.  We count the calories, carbs, and everything in between.  Reach out and get started today!