How to Have a Happy & Healthy Low-Carb Summer

summer fun

Happy & Healthy Low-Carb Summer

Summer has a lot to offer. Better weather. Vacations. Day trips to the beach, the mountains, or some happy place you love to visit. Long summer nights and more time with family and friends.

And then there’s the food. There’s more fresh fruits and vegetables in season during the summer months, and grilling is practically a national pastime. And that’s good news if you’re following a Low-Carb diet. Here are some great summer season food choices that don’t contain a lot of carbs:

Fruits and vegetables

Sure, fruits and vegetables contain carbs. But not like chowing down on a candy bar. For example, a typical chocolate bar contains about 25 to 30 grams of carbs, not to mention a ton of empty calories and fat.

But a cup of steamed broccoli only contains about 6 grams of carbs. Like asparagus? There’s only 5 grams of carbs in a cup. If you’re craving something sweet, try watermelon or strawberries. Both contain about 12 grams of carbs per cup.

If you’re not sure how many carbs are in the fruits and vegetables you like, just use a food tracker or app like MyFitnessPal.com to find out. Check out the Low-Carb menu, and you’ll also find lots of meals with a wide variety of vegetables to choose from.

Lean meats and poultry

Another hallmark of Low-Carb dieting is lean beef and poultry. Low-fat hamburger works great for patties on the grill. And chicken breast or chicken tenders with a little seasoning

can be a backyard barbecue favorite.

If you don’t feel like cooking, try the Sliced Beef Brisket, Sliced Hickory Smoked Honey Glazed Turkey Breast, or the Chicken and Artichoke with Spinach.

Fish

Here’s another low-carb option that can be the main course for any meal...fish.

If you’re up for spending a day on the water fishing for dinner, that’s one way to enjoy summer. But if you need to put dinner together for yourself or guests a little faster, try:

Salmon Caponata with Orzo & Spinach
Baked Tilapia, Brown Rice & Minted Carrots
Breaded Fish Wedge, Green Beans & Cauliflower
Tilapia with Miso, Ginger & Black Beans
Tilapia with Mushroom & Artichoke Hearts
Salmon Caponata
Crab Cakes

Low-carb salads, sides, and desserts

Let’s face it. The typical backyard barbecue or picnic doesn’t exactly cater to a Low-Carb diet. Hamburger and hot dog buns, pasta salads, potato chips, sugary drinks, and snacks. You’ll find a lot of that on the menu.

But there are plenty of low-carb recipes for salads, sides, and desserts you can make yourself.

Hungry for summer? Enjoy it with a Low-Carb diet.