Great Low Carb Lunch Ideas That Are Not Salads!

Carbohydrates are sugars, starches and fibers that occur naturally in food.  They are made up of sugar molecules which will sometimes link together to form starch and fiber.  Some diets classify carbs as ‘good’ and ‘bad’, with the former being those that contain fiber, but from a scientific standpoint this isn’t entirely accurate.  It is, however, useful when looking at nutrition.

Low carb diets are not simply ‘eat less carbohydrate-rich foods’.  It’s important to make sure that the cards you’re eating are good cards; just because you’re cutting them down doesn’t mean the type of carb they are doesn’t matter.  This is because ‘good carbs’ are often found in healthier foods whereas ‘bad carbs’ are seen in foods that are processed or have refined carbs that are low in fiber, such as white bread.

When looking for low carb lunch ideas, it’s important that the sources of your carbs are healthy.  Whole grains are the best form of good carbs, which are also very high in fiber.  Fiber not only aids in digestive health but it helps you feel full longer, which is important when learning to manage eating and dieting habits.  Good carbs also give you more energy, whereas bad carbs at lunch can cause a sugar crash not long after.  This will make it harder to get through the rest of your day, prompting you to eat more than your current diet allows for.

By learning how to meal plan it will be easier for you to be mindful of the carbs that you’re eating.  Planning ahead for the week or month means looking at lots of different recipes so you’ll quickly pick up on where the best carbs can be found.  If you’re having a hard time finding decent recipes, a random food generator can help you out.

Here are some ideas for ways you can make sure you get good carbs in moderation-

• If you’re on the go and need something you can bring with you, invest in a large thermos to store things like creamy mushroom soup, roasted butternut squash soup, or shirataki noodle soup.  

• If you’re trying to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals rainbow salad, broccoli salad with fresh dill, or Kale Caesar salad.  

• For carbs that are high in fiber, try an avocado dish like tuna salad stuffed avocados or an avocado egg salad.  

• By swapping out carb-heavy wheat flour for almond flour you can enjoy a quiche topped with eggs, cheese, spinach, and sundried tomatoes for something hearty and filling.