There’s nothing better than a comforting bowl of macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes on a cold winter day. However, these dishes are often high in carbohydrates. We took 5 of our favorite comfort foods and created alternative recipes that are low in carbs, but high in flavor.
- Mashed Cauliflower
Mashed potatoes can be high in carbohydrates and fat, depending on how much butter and cream your recipe requires. The perfect carb-cutting solution? Cauliflower. Not only is cauliflower high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but also low in carbs. Simply boil the cauliflower and blend, along with garlic and low-fat cream cheese, in a food processor for light and creamy mashed cauliflower. Top with chives for a pop of color!
- Spaghetti Squash “Spaghetti”
This substitution almost seems too obvious; the answer is in the name. Transform delicious Italian meatballs and spaghetti into a low-carb and lean dinner with spaghetti squash. There are only ten carbs in a one cup serving of spaghetti squash. Simply slice the squash in half and bake. Once the squash has finished cooking, use a fork to scrape the “noodles” out. Bonus points if you skip the bread crumbs and use ground turkey, instead of beef, in your meatballs.
- Lettuce Wrap Burritos
There’s nothing more satisfying than a hearty burrito, until this recipe of course. Swap a high-carb tortilla for a crisp lettuce leaf. You can still fill it with you favorite toppings: onions, peppers, cilantro, tomato, lime, ground turkey, and more. You get all of the taste with none of the guilt.
- Kale “Potato” Chips
Potato chips are high in carbohydrates and sodium. But you don’t have to give up the crunch to keep with your low-carb diet. Kale contains a number of vitamins, fiber, and protein. With the stalks removed, the leaves can be tossed lightly in olive oil, topped with salt, and baked until crispy. The perfect finger food for any party or gathering!
- Coconut Flour Pancakes
Traditional wheat flour pancakes can have nearly 73.3 grams of starchy carbohydrates for every 100 grams. In comparison, coconut flour has only 17.6 grams of starchy carbs per 100 grams. Coconut flour allows you to use less, replacing 2 to 3 times the amount of wheat flour. All you have to do is exchange the wheat flour in your favorite pancake recipe for coconut flour. Quick tip: Make sure you increase the wet ingredients accordingly, as coconut flour can dry out your cooking or baking.
We always recommend looking for opportunities to tweak your go-to dishes to maintain a healthy lifestyle. All it takes is a little research and creativity to make meals low-carb and delectable. Implement these changes into your diet plan and begin feeling the benefits inside and out.
In addition to incorporating low-carb alternatives, consider contacting the Complete Medical Weight Loss Clinic to schedule a visit and determine if our program’s conventional diet plan, prescription appetite suppressants, and optional injections are right for you and your weight management goals.