7 Recipes for a Low-Carb Diet
2012 Nov 05 | Written by: Katherine Cortes | Tags: Desserts, Low Carb Recipes, Poultry, Vegetarian7 Recipes for a Low-Carb Diet, 
If you’re planning to go on a low-carb diet, you probably fall on either one of these: (a) wants to lose weight or (b) has been advised by a doctor to change your eating habits as a treatment for various health conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and more.
As the name suggests, a low-carb diet entails eating foods that are low in carbohydrates in order to lower insulin levels. This results in the body turning to fat for its energy use, leading to weight loss and the reduction of risk factors for the health conditions mentioned above.
Best and Worst Foods for a Low-Carb Diet
To put it simply, a low-carb diet focuses on dietary proteins and fats. The diet emphasises these items:
- Non-carbohydrate foods: meat, poultry, game, fish and dairy products
- Low-carbohydrate foods: non-starchy vegetables, tree nuts, some fruits
Sugar and starchy foods are limited or excluded, the list of which is shown below:
- Fruits with a high sugar content such as grapes, mangos, bananas and pineapple
- Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, corn, carrots, parsnips and beets
- Grains including bread, which is made with flour
- Sugar and sweets
Tip: As a further guide for knowing what foods to eat for a low-carb diet, check out the Low-Carb Food Pyramid.
Those said, take note that there are various diet plans that adopt the low-carb diet, with varying recommended carb levels and food choices, including the popular Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet and various detox and cleansing programs. It remains best to consult a health care provider before starting on any particular diet plan.
Delicious low carb recipes
To give you an idea of what dishes you can eat while on a low-carb diet, we’ve compiled these 7 delicious recipes that are low in carbs but are definitely not lacking in flavour. These recipes will help you breeze through the diet and enjoy good food:
Asparagus Frittata
This low-carb asparagus frittata recipe will help you look forward to eating green vegetables.
Healthy and delicious, asparagus frittata is perfect for breakfasts.
Baked Chicken in Orange Sauce
Here’s a recipe for great-tasting, tangy baked chicken.
Chicken is a high-protein meat and won’t add to your carbohydrate count, so you can enjoy this dish without worries.
Peach and Cucumber Gazpacho
A colourful dish that uses fresh fruits and vegetables, even those not on a low-carb diet are sure to enjoy this Spanish specialty.
Yoghurt and Fruit Parfait
Just when you thought you couldn’t have it all, here’s a recipe for a yummy, low-carb yoghurt and fruit parfait.
This parfait is ideal as a healthy snack or dessert or simply when you want to make use of fresh strawberries and blueberries.
Apple-Chicken Patties
These apple-chicken patties are ideal for breakfasts or brunches.
These are healthy and convenient to make, as these can be made ahead and stored in the freezer.
Chicken Salad
Chicken and hardboiled eggs make for a simple, delicious salad in this recipe.
Eat as a meal on its own or wrapped in crispy lettuce leaves.
Flax Bread
You don’t have to necessarily skip out on bread when on a low-carb diet.
This bread recipe contains flax seeds, which has lots of nutrients but very low carbohydrates. Use for toast or as a burger bun.
Try these low-carb recipes and tell us what you think!