Low Carb Smart Snacking

By Susan Burke MS, RD, LD/N, CDE
eDiets Chief Nutritionist

Snacking doesn't necessarily mean eating in addition to your diet, or eating foods that are unhealthy for you. Much better than fasting (which depletes you of energy and motivation), keeping your engine burning and fueling your body with healthy snacks is going to help you achieve your goals.

On eDiets , your menu is created for results, and fuels you with the right amount of calories and nutrition, or in the case of the Atkins Diet, the right amount and the right type of carbs, for your personal and unique requirements. Daily snacks are included on your daily menu, and in addition, we encourage members to take a food item or two from each meal to eat two to three hours later.

On the Atkins Diet, you begin with Induction, and your menu is higher in protein and fat and lower in carbohydrates. During this two-week phase, you're restricted to two cups of salad vegetables and one cup of cooked vegetables daily. Eat liberally of protein choices, including turkey and chicken, meats and fish, eggs and to a lesser extent, cheese. Non-meat sources of proteins such as tofu, soy nuts and tempeh are permitted.

There are a variety of low-carb snack products available. Some low-carb products are sweetened with Splenda, others have both Splenda and sugar alcohols. Depending on your taste, you may find them enjoyable, and they are available for an occasional treat without going over your carbohydrate allowance.

Fresh Low-Carb Snack Ideas:
1. Sliced turkey breast, roast beef, chicken breast or ham wrapped around celery sticks

2. Sliced avocado salad dressed with olive oil and a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar

3. Quarter-cup roasted almonds

4. Cup of roasted peanuts in the shell

5. Four large boiled shrimp with sugar-free cocktail sauce

6. Two cups sugar-free gelatin topped with a whipped cream

7. Hard-boiled eggs

8. String cheese

9. Celery stuffed with nut butter (no-sugar-added peanut, cashew or sesame butter)

10. Marinated olives and fennel

eDiets and Atkins Diet, can help you fight the battle of the bulge. We know you're busy -- that's why we take all the guesswork out of dieting for you. Everything you need to succeed is at your fingertips.

eDiets Chief Nutritionist Susan L. Burke is a registered and licensed dietitian and a certified diabetes educator who specializes in both general and diabetes-related weight management