5 Ways Dietitians Recommend Cutting Carbs

5 Best Ways to Cut Carbs

Want to go low-carb to lose weight, cut body fat, or control blood sugar levels? Adjusting your diet to control the amount of carbohydrates (especially refined carbohydrates) you consume can help. But if you decide to go low-carb or your doctor recommends it, what exactly should you be eating?
It's not that hard to spot foods that are high in carbs. But is there an eat-this-not-that kind of guide to help you make the switch? Registered dietitians recently weighed in on this and shared the following low-carb diet tips:

1. Replace bread with pistachios

So you're not going to spread some peanut butter and jelly on a handful of pistachios. But pistachios do work well with grilled chicken or fish. And they're a great low-carb alternative to breaded croutons in a salad.

2. Make Your Own Tortilla-Crust Pizza

If you're serious about going low-carb, you'll need to delete the pizza delivery number from your cell phone. Most pizza is loaded with carbs, fat, and calories that will likely derail any nutritional goals you have. But that doesn't mean you have to swear off pizza. Just make your own with healthy toppings, and use a flatbread tortilla instead of the typical dough-made pizza crust.

3. Munch More Leafy Greens

Not all vegetables are created equal. In fact, some vegetables contain more carbs than others. Potatoes, corn, and beets are higher in carbs than most vegetables. So if you're going low-carb, get your vegetables by eating more leafy-greens like spinach, green  beans, asparagus, eggplant, and zucchini.

4. Steer Clear of Added Sugar

It's no secret that you're loading up on carbs and added sugar if you polish off a bucket of ice cream or nosh your way through a candy bar. But you might not realize that some seemingly healthy foods contain added sugar like cereals, juice, sauces, yogurt, and chocolate milk. Read food labels to avoid added sugar.

5. Ban the Bun for a Low-Carb Alternative

Even if you're committed to following a low-carb diet, you're bound to encounter a situation where the main dish is wrapped in a bun. It's less of an offender if it's a whole-grain bun, but even then it's going to be high in carbs. Fortunately, there are alternatives. Pita bread and tortillas are lower in carbs and can often be used instead of a traditional bun. Or you could simply ditch the bun, and wrap that burger in some extra crispy lettuce.

Going low-carb doesn't have to be a downer. There are many small adjustments you can make to your usual eating habits to eat healthy and still enjoy your favorite foods without gorging on an excess of carbs. And if you need a little more help than these low-carb diet tips to make the change, check out our selection of Low-Carbohydrate meals.