Low-carb eating is taking the world by storm and it’s easy to see why. After all, there are so many health benefits to reducing your carb intake.
For example, low-carb diets help you to lose weight, as well promote good cholesterol and improve your blood sugar levels.
Still, finding snacks that are low in carbs can be a challenge, as a lot of popular snack foods are packed with it.
Luckily however, you can get creative and prepare easy and delicious low-carb snacks at home.
Eating snacks that have protein, healthy fats, and healthy carbs (like veggies and fruit) can give you a hand when hitting your carb targets while making sure you’re getting the nutrients you need.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at 28 zero and low-carb snacks.
1. Apricots Stuffed With Blue Cheese
Unlike canned and dried apricots (which tend to be high in carbs and sugar), fresh apricots have fewer carbs with one fruit containing just 4 grams of carbs.
To make an apricot stuffed with blue cheese, halve an apricot and take out the pit. Mix ¼ cup of crumbled blue cheese with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Place the mixture in the middle of the apricot half and broil on a cooking sheet for a couple of minutes until toasted.
2. Avocado Egg Salad
Instead of mayonnaise, put a spin on an egg salad with mashed avocado. To make this salad, just mash half an avocado with a hard-boiled egg.
Then, lightly season with salt and pepper. You can enjoy the avocado egg salad on its own by spreading it onto low-carb crackers or putting it in a lettuce wrap.
3. Beef/Turkey Jerky
If you’re keeping an eye on your carb consumption, then you need some turkey or beef jerky in your fridge.
Jerky is an amazing source of protein when you want to snack on the go, but it is high in sodium.
So you should check the labels and the portion size to make sure you’re not eating too much sodium.
4. Berries And Whipped Cream
Berries are not just super nutritious but they’re also an amazing choice for a lower-carb fruit. For instance, blueberries have just 11 grams of carbs in ½ cup.
For a tasty, low-carb snack put ½ cup of blueberries with 2 tablespoons of homemade whipped cream. You can make the whipped cream by whipping heavy cream and skipping the sugar.
5. BLT Lettuce Wrap
BLT sandwiches are a classic lunch meal that is delicious but high in carbs. Still, making a low-carb BLT is easy to make without bread for a tasty snack.
You just place three slices of tomato and two slices of bacon into a large romaine lettuce leaf. For extra flavor, add a couple of slices of avocado and a handful of shredded cheese.
6. Caprese Salad
Caprese salad is an Italian dish that is low in carbs and made with basil leaves, mozzarella cheese, olive oil, and tomatoes.
To make this salad combine ½ a cup of grape tomatoes, 1 oz of small mozzarella balls, and 1 tablespoon of chopped, fresh basil leaves.
Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a little sea salt. For an extra hit of flavor, drizzle 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar over the salad.
7. Carrot Sticks With Homemade Aioli
Carrots have fewer carbs than you may think for a veggie so sweet, with 10 baby carrots having just 8 grams and 3 grams of fiber.
For an even tastier snack, dip some baby carrots into homemade aioli.
For the aioli, mix ¼ cup of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1 minced garlic clove.
8. Celery And Canned Salmon
Since celery is mainly fiber and water it is seriously low in carbs, and eating foods that are high in fiber can help you feel fuller for longer and reduce your cholesterol.
Meanwhile, topping celery with salmon gives you heart-healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids that can help reduce inflammation and blood fat levels.
9. Celery And Nut Butter
This is a simple, classic low-carb snack. Adding nut butter to celery also helps to make it more filling.
However, you will need to ensure the nut butter has no added sugar. The combination of nut butter and celery is a great source of heart-healthy fats and fiber for a filling snack.
10. Chicken And Mustard Lettuce Roll-Ups
Ditch the standard flour tortillas and go for lettuce wraps instead! You can make it filling by using lean meat like chicken as the base.
Chicken is some of the best sources of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 helps your body create red blood cells, which reduces the risk of anemia.
You just need to toss chicken breasts in mustard before rolling the chicken up in the lettuce leaf.
11. Cinnamon Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
One ounce – or 28 grams – of pumpkin seeds with no shell has 4 grams of carbs and nearly 2 grams of fiber.
Furthermore, pumpkin seeds contain lots of zinc, an important mineral needed for good immune system health.
To make toasted pumpkin seeds, mix together 1 ounce of pumpkin seeds with half a teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 teaspoons of olive oil.
Put the seeds on a baking sheet and bake at 300 °F for 45 minutes, or until the seeds turn golden brown.
12. Dark Chocolate With Cashew Butters
Dark chocolate is an amazing low-carb snack for those with a sweet tooth.
One ounce of at least 70% dark chocolate gives you around 13 grams of carbs and 3 grams of fiber but some brands do have less.
We recommend 1 ounce of dark chocolate with 1 tablespoon of cashew butter for an extra hit of fat and protein.
Make sure you choose at least 70% dark chocolate. The lower the percentages might have more carbs per serving.
You should avoid dark chocolate with lots of added sugar or sweetened dried fruit that can increase the amount of carbs.
13. Deviled Eggs
A large egg has less than 1 gram of carbs. Eggs are also packed with choline and vitamin B12 that are crucial for a healthy brain.
To make deviled eggs, cut hard-boiled eggs in half. Scoop out the egg yolks and mix with Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.
Lastly, place a spoonful of the egg yolk in the egg white and add a dash of paprika.
14. Fresh Vegetables With Tzatziki Dip
Tzatziki is a Greek sauce made from cucumbers, garlic, and yogurt. Herbs such as parsley and dill are also added.
Two tablespoons of tzatziki dip contain only 1 gram of carbs, so it really is an amazing low-carb dip!
Enjoy this dip with fresh veggies that are low in carbs like baby carrots, broccoli and celery sticks.
15. Homemade Trail Mix
Trail mix usually has high-carb ingredients such as candy, dried fruit and raisins.
But it is possible to make low-carb trail mix by combining a range of seeds and nuts and other ingredients that are low in carbs like unsweetened coconut.
16. Kale Chips
Kale is a beloved veggie that is low in carbs but full of nutrients like folate, vitamin A and vitamin K. One cup of kale has less than 1 gram of carbs!
But if sautéed or raw kale isn’t your thing, then why not make some kale chips instead?
To make these chips, tear kale leaves into small pieces and put them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
Drizzle garlic powder, olive oil, and salt over the kale. Bake the chips at 350 °F for around 10 minutes, or until the edges of the leaves turn brown and crisp up.
17. Low Carb Bento Box
Originating in Japan, a bento box is a container with different compartments that can hold a surprising amount of food!
Depending on what is in them, pre-made bento boxes contain 20–40 grams of carbs. To make a low-carb bento box yourself, pack it with a range of low-carb snack items.
Fresh vegetables: Bell pepper slices, broccoli, celery sticks or sliced cucumber.
Fruits that are low in carbs: Avocado slices, berries, cantaloupe or olives.
Nuts: Almonds, macadamia nuts, peanuts or walnuts.
Protein: Cheese squares, cottage cheese, grilled chicken, or hard-boiled eggs.
18. Olive Tapenade With Low Carb Crackers
The ingredients for olive tapenade are capers, chopped olives, and olive oils.
Olives are an amazing low-carb source of vitamin E, which acts as a strong antioxidant, protecting cells against damage done by reactive modules called free radicals.
Olive tapenade is easy to make at home. Enjoy it with a low-carb cracker – such as one made from almond seeds or flour – for a deliciously crunchy snack.
Bear in mind that how many carbs in your snack will vary depending on what kind of cracker you use.
19. Plain Yogurt With Nuts
Traditional flavored yogurt tends to contain a lot of sugar. Opting for unsweetened plain yogurt gets rid of all that add sugar which reduces the carb content.
However, yogurt and milk contain some natural sugars.
For instance, a 6-ounce serving of plain, unsweetened, whole-milk yogurt has only 8 grams of carbs.
To ensure the snack remains low in carbs, combine plain yogurt with some nuts, and add a dash of vanilla extract or cinnamon to enhance the flavor.
20. Sardines On Seed Crackers
Sardines are small, oily fish that are full of nutrients. One can of sardines has 23 grams of protein but zero carbs.
They are also an amazing source of calcium, providing 27% of the DV (Daily Value) for this mineral.
We recommend combining sardines with low-carb six-seed crackers for extra crunch and a nutritious snack.
Bear in mind that how many carbs your snack has will depend on what kind of cracker you use.
21. Savory Cottage Cheese
1.5 cups of cottage cheese contains 5 grams of carbs and 12 grams of protein. It’s also packed with bone-strengthening minerals like phosphorus and calcium.
While many people enjoy cottage cheese with fruit, it can also be a savory snack by enjoying it with avocado slices, chopped green onions, grape tomatoes, or hot sauce.
22. Seaweed Sheets
Dried seaweed sheets are a crunchy, low-carb snack you can enjoy on the go. Seaweed is one of the great natural sources of iodine, a mineral that encourages good thyroid health.
Your thyroid gland produces important hormones you need for your growth and metabolism.
You can enjoy seaweed on its own, in a salad, or with avocado slices or scrambled eggs.
23. Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites
Salmon is a great, low-carb source of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. These healthy fats have many benefits like better heart health and lower inflammation.
Spread 2 tablespoons of plain cream cheese on 1 cup of cucumber slices before folding 1 ounce of smoked salmon on the slices and add fresh cracked pepper on top.
24. Steamed Edamame
Edamame are green soybeans that are unripe and totally nutritious. They contain compounds known as isoflavones that are believed to help reduce bone loss.
A 1-cup serving of edamame has just 14 grams of carbs and over 18 grams of plant-based protein.
For an easy low-carb snack, put some raw shelled edamame into a bowl with one tablespoon of water.
Place a paper towel on top and microwave on high for a minute or until they’re tender. Lightly season with sea salt.
25. Strawberry Smoothie
Although smoothies are full of fruit, juice, and sorbet and can contain lots of carbs, you can actually whip up a low-carb smoothie. You just need the right ingredients.
For instance, strawberries are a tasty fruit that are low in carbs, with half a cup of strawberries having just 6 grams of carbs. To make a strawberry smoothie low in carbs, put the following in a blender:
- 1 tablespoon of chia seeds.
- 1.5 cups of fresh strawberries.
- ¼ cup of vanilla extract.
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk.
- ¼ cup of whey protein (or another low-carb protein powder).
- A couple of ice cubes.
26. String Cheese
String cheese is a simple snack you can eat on the go. Plus, a single stick of cheese has 8 grams of filling protein.
Of course, cheese is also an amazing calcium source that is a crucial mineral for improved muscle function, bone health, and even your nervous system.
27. Stuffed Avocado
While a medium avocado has 12 grams of carbs, 9 grams of these come from fiber, an indigestible nutrient that your body doesn’t absorb, so avocados are an amazing addition to a low-carb diet.
To stuff an avocado, cut it in half and take out the pit before spooning the low-carb stuffing of your choice in the middle of an avocado.
We recommend filling the avocado with canned tuna or salmon, scrambled eggs and cheese, or chopped shrimp.
28. Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps
Three ounces of tuna contain zero carbs and almost 25 grams of protein.
To make tuna salad, mix a 3 ounce can of tuna with ¼ cup of mayonnaise and ¼ cup of diced celery before seasoning with salt and pepper.
For another option that is low in carbs, scoop the tuna salad onto a butter lettuce leaf.
Final Thoughts
We hope our picks for the 28 zero carb and low-carb snacks have shown you that going carb-free doesn’t have to be hard, and doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of delicious snacks!
There are so many ways to enjoy a low-carb diet, but one of the key aspects of going low-carb is having many healthy snacks at your disposal.
Planning is also key. Drawing up a low-carb meal plan or menu can also make sticking to your health goals easier.
The low-carb and zero-carb snacks we’ve mentioned contain many important nutrients such as fiber, healthy fats, and protein.
Plus, they’re tasty and will help sate your cravings between meals! Happy eating!
